John Murphy

Dr. John Patrick Murphy 1933-2020

Dr. John Patrick Murphy of Grand Junction, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2020 in Grand Junction, he was 87.

A resident of Grand Junction since 1972, John was born in Coronado, California on September 28, 1933 to Admiral John W. Murphy and Elizabeth Hall Murphy.  The only son of a career Naval Officer, John too entered military service after graduating high school. John was a Marine during the Korean Conflict and attached to the Navy Signal Corps. Upon completing his military service he returned to university, earning a masters degree in psychology and doctoral degree in education. Throughout his career John served as dean of students at multiple universities and was director of counseling at Ft. Lewis College in Durango. He later took a position with the Department of Veterans in Grand Junction where he was the director of substance abuse counseling until his retirement.

While at the University of South Carolina John met the love of his life, Sara (Sally) Brazzell.  They were married near the Murphy ancestral home in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1959. Sally was a research librarian with the Department of Energy. She passed away in 2011.

Throughout their life together, John and Sally enjoyed traveling, sailing, skiing, music and multiple outdoor recreational activities. John was also a skilled amateur radio “ham” operator. His call was WAØTOY. He enjoyed using this skill to extend their travel through “DXing” with other hams around the world. Over the years John enjoyed volunteering as a radio relay operator for search and rescue operations in the days before digital communications.

John requested no services. Internment will be at the columbarium at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Grand Junction. Memorial donations can be made to Ho