Kenneth George Murphy

Kenneth George Murphy passed from this life at 7 p.m. on October 2, 2004 at Quincy Valley Care Center in Quincy, Wash. He was 90 years of age.

Ken was born to Vincent Aloysius Murphy and Genevieve Jane (Costello) Murphy on June 6, 1914 in Upham, ND. He was born at home, on an isolated wheat farm. He rode from Dakota to Oregon with a friend on a motorcycle at the age of 21, seeking work in the post-depression economy. He took any job available, and worked 15 different jobs over the next three years. After completing a trade school course in auto body repair, he began work in a Chevrolet dealership in Raymond, Wash. in 1941.

The day after Pearl Harbor in 1941, Ken enlisted in the Army Air Corps, hoping to serve his country as a pilot. Poor eyesight precluded that, so he was assigned to the Training Command and spent the duration of World War II traveling about the U.S. and Europe, instructing P-47 pilots and mechanics regarding that aircraft's electronic systems. He was credited with saving the lives of many pilots through his discovery of the cause of mysterious mid-air P-47 explosions that had been plaguing the aircraft.

On August 30, 1947, Ken married Dorothy Alice Cearns of South Bend, Wash. Adverse effects of the dust and fumes of the body shop caused Ken to seek work in a healthier environment, and he chose farming. After working on a large farm in Oregon, where their first two children were born, Ken and Dorothy moved to Moses Lake, Wash. in 1951 to work on a large farm.

With the advent of irrigation in the Columbia Basin, they began farming rented land in Quincy in 1952. In 1956 they bought land on the Royal Slope. Ken cleared this land of sagebrush and leveled it for irrigation, a harsh task in a difficult environment. In 1960, they moved with their seven children to the Royal City farm.

Ken continued to persevere, facing the challenges of farming the new land with all its difficult aspects. Through hard work, resourcefulness, and strong faith in God's providence, Ken was able to provide adequately for the needs of his family. He constructed a large new home by 1965 to replace the surplus military unit the family had initially lived in. The room was needed, as by 1968 there were 13 children in the family — 10 boys and three girls.

From 1960 to 1990, Ken was active in grassroots politics and community service. He significantly impacted numerous issues, particularly at the local and state level. In 1982, Ken retired from full-time farming in favor of his sons. For the next several years, he and Dorothy traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada in their pickup and camper. From 1985 to 1999, Ken grew Christmas trees and enjoyed marketing them to the public each winter.

A degenerative bone condition in one leg made walking difficult for the last 30 years of Ken's life. Despite that, he was a fixture for years as he took regular walks in front of his house along Road 12. Thankfully, passing drivers were cautious and gave him plenty of room. A stroke in 1997 left him somewhat impaired, and a second stroke in 2001 completely disabled him physically. From that point until his death, he required total care in a nursing facility. His mental faculties were spared, though it was an effort for him to speak.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, and all of his siblings, a brother and two sisters.

He is survived by: Dorothy, his wife of 57 years; their 13 children, John (Linda) of Royal City, Maureen (Pedro) Saucedo of Royal City, Michael of Marysville, Wash., Robert (Debra) of Royal City, Gerald (Marlene) of Lake Forest Park, Wash., James (Kat) of Cottage Grove, Ore., Patrick (Kris) of Seattle, Lawrence of Kent Wash., Mark (Kalleen) of Richland, Wash., Theresa of Yakima, Wash., William of Bellevue, Wash., Rebecca of Yakima, Kevin (Laura) of Yakima; and 28 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7 p.m., October 7, 2004 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Royal City Wash.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, October 7, 2004 at St. Michael's in Royal City at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Royal Memorial Gardens, Royal City, Washington.

Lisa Leitz

The South County Sun

Royal City (509) 346-9723

Mattawa (509) 932-4457