1926
Lt.
2017
Lt. Col. James Murphy
April 30, 1926 — March 5, 2017
Lt. Col. James Barber Murphy, 90, died Sunday, March 5th, 2017 at Highline Place Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado.
A Funeral Service with will be held at Hood Mortuary, 1261 E. 3rd Ave., Durango on Saturday, March 11th, 2017 at 10:30am. Following the service, a burial with military honors will occur at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango.
Jim, the son of Martin and Aurora Murphy, was born in Gallup, NM April 30th, 1926 and was a 43 year Durango, CO native. After graduating from Gallup High School in 1944, he joined the Navy during WWII and entered ground school for flight training at University of Iowa in 1945. After 6 months there, WWII ended and Jim was discharged.
He was then accepted to the Naval Academy at Annapolis and graduated in 1951. He was assigned to the US Air Force and began flight training in Chandler, AZ where he met his wife Marjorie Reed Murphy of Stevens Point, WI. Marjorie was a Lab Technician at Good Sam Hospital in Phoenix. Marge and Jim married in Gallup, NM in 1952 and began their military travels. Jim spent some time in Alaska, and was stationed primarily at Shaw AFB South Carolina, Laon Air Base France, the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA and Langley AFB, VA. He flew the RF80, RF84, and RF101 and flew reconnaissance missions in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Jim received two distinguished flying crosses and two air medals.
He Retired as Lt. Col in 1970 after 20 years served and moved to Durango, because he had visited it once as a kid and it stuck with him. In Durango, he was a licensed Real Estate agent and small business owner running Sundance Traders (Indian Jewelry/Rugs), Columbine Antiques, and Fruitland Trading Post in Fruitland, NM with friend/business partner Bob Jacobsen.
He volunteered with the local Red Cross, Purgatory Ski Team, and was Lions Club President. He was a local private pilot who flew medical deliveries to Albuquerque, for Kangaroo Express, towed gliders and co-owned an airplane with late great friend and aviator Art Olson.
He was preceded in death by Marjorie Reed Murphy (Wife) of Durango, Ted Reed Murphy (Son), and Charles Murphy (Brother) of Albuquerque, NM, Martin Jennings Murphy of Gallup, NM (Father), Aurora Mae Barber Murphy (Mother) of Gallup, NM.
Jim is survived by David Mark Murphy (Son) of Colorado Springs, CO, and Daniel James Murphy (Son) of Castle Pines, CO, Nathan Murphy (Grandson) of Colorado Springs, CO, Katie Lambert (Granddaughter) of Colorado Springs, CO, Amanda Wu (Granddaughter) of Dayton, OH, Laura Spies (Granddaughter) of Cordova, MD, Caroline Diane Murphy (Niece) of Santa Fe, NM, Bobbie Joe Murphy (Niece) of Santa Fe, NM, and 10 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
A Funeral Service with will be held at Hood Mortuary, 1261 E. 3rd Ave., Durango on Saturday, March 11th, 2017 at 10:30am. Following the service, a burial with military honors will occur at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango.
Jim, the son of Martin and Aurora Murphy, was born in Gallup, NM April 30th, 1926 and was a 43 year Durango, CO native. After graduating from Gallup High School in 1944, he joined the Navy during WWII and entered ground school for flight training at University of Iowa in 1945. After 6 months there, WWII ended and Jim was discharged.
He was then accepted to the Naval Academy at Annapolis and graduated in 1951. He was assigned to the US Air Force and began flight training in Chandler, AZ where he met his wife Marjorie Reed Murphy of Stevens Point, WI. Marjorie was a Lab Technician at Good Sam Hospital in Phoenix. Marge and Jim married in Gallup, NM in 1952 and began their military travels. Jim spent some time in Alaska, and was stationed primarily at Shaw AFB South Carolina, Laon Air Base France, the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA and Langley AFB, VA. He flew the RF80, RF84, and RF101 and flew reconnaissance missions in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Jim received two distinguished flying crosses and two air medals.
He Retired as Lt. Col in 1970 after 20 years served and moved to Durango, because he had visited it once as a kid and it stuck with him. In Durango, he was a licensed Real Estate agent and small business owner running Sundance Traders (Indian Jewelry/Rugs), Columbine Antiques, and Fruitland Trading Post in Fruitland, NM with friend/business partner Bob Jacobsen.
He volunteered with the local Red Cross, Purgatory Ski Team, and was Lions Club President. He was a local private pilot who flew medical deliveries to Albuquerque, for Kangaroo Express, towed gliders and co-owned an airplane with late great friend and aviator Art Olson.
He was preceded in death by Marjorie Reed Murphy (Wife) of Durango, Ted Reed Murphy (Son), and Charles Murphy (Brother) of Albuquerque, NM, Martin Jennings Murphy of Gallup, NM (Father), Aurora Mae Barber Murphy (Mother) of Gallup, NM.
Jim is survived by David Mark Murphy (Son) of Colorado Springs, CO, and Daniel James Murphy (Son) of Castle Pines, CO, Nathan Murphy (Grandson) of Colorado Springs, CO, Katie Lambert (Granddaughter) of Colorado Springs, CO, Amanda Wu (Granddaughter) of Dayton, OH, Laura Spies (Granddaughter) of Cordova, MD, Caroline Diane Murphy (Niece) of Santa Fe, NM, Bobbie Joe Murphy (Niece) of Santa Fe, NM, and 10 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lt. Col. James Murphy, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Service Information
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Starts at 10:30 am (Mountain time)
Hood Mortuary Chapel
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