James Murphy

James (Jim) Murphy of Moyie Springs passed away suddenly on December 16, 2010 at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur 'd Alene Idaho, one day before his 78th birthday. At Jim's request no services will be held, however, there will be a brief gathering of friends at Murphy's garden spot at 2:00pm on Sunday May 1, 2011 to say “farewell” and to carry out his wishes for his ashes. Jim was born December 17, 1932 in Charleville, County Cork, Ireland, to John and Catherine (O'Rourke) Murphy, the fourth youngest of eleven children. As a young man he emigrated from Ireland, first to Canada, then a couple years later to the U.S. He served for a time in the U.S. Army, and was honorably discharged in 1957 at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1984 he became a naturalized U.S. Citizen in Reno NV. He never forgot his Irish roots, and to the end he kept up on events and people in Charleville. On December 23, 1961 Jim married Jeanne Marie Woolsey in Chicago, IL. Most of his working years were spent in the construction trades, mostly in California and Nevada. He was a proud lifelong member of Local 169 – Laborer's International Union. Jim's wife Jeanne passed away in 1972 in Oakland, CA. He was remarried on July 28, 1975, to Stacia Helen Roberts in Reno NV. Around that time they bought a place near the Evergreen School east of Moyie Springs where they planned to retire. They continued working in Reno while Jim made many trips to Idaho to work on the new place. They moved permanently to Moyie after Stacia retired in 1985, and there they spent their remaining years. Stacia preceded Jim in death in 1997. After retiring, Jim led a quiet, private life. Even so, he made many friends who will miss him greatly. At Jim's, friends would always find the coffee on, the wit sharp and the humor wry. He loved to garden, and from early spring until late fall a visitor would, more often than not, find a sign hanging on his front door that said “I'm In The Garden.” He became quite skilled at gardening and what produce he didn't give away, he sold at the Bonners Ferry Farmer's Market, literally tons of it over the years. Jim will be fondly remembered as a kind and generous man. He is survived by one brother, Patrick Murphy of Santa Rosa, CA.