Stephen Robert Murphy

It is with great sadness and much love that we mourn the passing of Stephen R. Murphy on August 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City, UT.

Stephen was born at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Norfolk, NE on September 10, 1950. He was raised on his family’s nearby farm where he spent many happy hours working, spending time with his family, and attending Fairview Methodist Church and Fairview District 88 grade school. He also learned to sing and play guitar there, soon becoming an accomplished performer and even being featured on a local television station. He graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1968 and went on to earn his drafting license from Nettleton Drafting School in Columbus, NE.

Stephen moved to Sausalito, CA for a short time before entering the U.S. Army in 1970 and being shipped to Okinawa, Japan. He spent his years in the military as a personnel clerk, and it was while stationed there that he met and began dating JoAnn Danner. The two shared a love of music and began performing as a folk duo. He had a beautiful tenor singing voice. Soon, Stephen became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Once he was discharged from the Army the two were married at the Manti Temple in Manti, UT in 1973. The newlyweds then moved back to Nebraska where they lived and worked on Stephen’s grandparents’ farm.

They started their family with the birth of their oldest child, Shawn, who was born at the same hospital as Stephen. In 1976 the family moved to Provo, UT where Stephen attended BYU. There they welcomed Carrie and Kellie, both born at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, and Christopher, who Stephen himself delivered at home. He was a proud, devoted father who always made time for his children and genuinely enjoyed spending time with them. Stephen and JoAnn eventually parted ways but they always remained close. Years later, he had a brief marriage to Alberta Prefontaine.

Stephen lived most of the rest of his life in Utah, except for a few years when he returned to Nebraska and was able to spend treasured time with his siblings and their families. He loved the beauty that both of his home states offered. He was a renaissance man, never afraid to start a new venture or explore a new interest. He was a curious, bright, talented, and compassionate person. He was a hard worker who owned/operated his own maintenance company for years.

In his later years, Stephen began writing, eventually publishing a book of short stories called Reflections. Stephen struggled bravely with a decades-long battle with Parkinson's disease. Those who knew Stephen loved him for his sweet nature, sense of humor, and kindness.
Stephen was preceded in death by his loving parents, Lester and Jeanette Murphy.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by an extensive family that misses him, including the mother of his children JoAnn Murphy, his four children Shawn Murphy (Jana), Carrie Kikuchi (Kara), Kellie North, and Christopher Murphy (Waruni), his eight grandchildren, his brother Ken Murphy (Carolyn), sister Jean Hughes (Tom), and brother Tim Murphy, as well as numerous friends and relatives.

Stephen’s family wishes to thank his friends and everyone who cared for him at the William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veterans Home as well as Canyon Hospice.

A Memorial Service will be held Wed, Sep. 11, 2024, with the viewing at 10 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m., at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT. Interment will follow at the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 S. Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah. For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please click on the "Watch Services" link above.