John F Murphy

John Franklin Murphy, ”Murph”, 77, of Santa Fe, NM, passed away on January 16, 2022 after succumbing to complications from Post-Polio Syndrome.

John was born on April 25, 1944 to William J. and Eva O. Murphy in Albuquerque, NM. After John graduated from Espanola High School in 1963, he went on to start what would be a life-long passionate and rewarding career in plumbing, pipe-fitting, and welding, having worked for Zia Co., Pan Am, Johnson Controls, Inc., Johnson Controls of Northern New Mexico and KSL.

In 1970, John met Thelma in Espanola, NM. Between the two of them, John and Thelma had four children, John “Darren” Murphy, Kyla Murphy, Kevin Sanchez, and Leanne Espiritu.

In 2004, John retired from the Local 412 Plumber’s and Pipe-Fitter’s Union and spent his time with his wife, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, as well as loving to fish, hunt, camp, travel the world, work on endless home projects, give un-official lectures on all kinds of history, and race his Nostalgia Front Engine Dragster, “Senior Moments”.

John was known for his generous and gracious heart, his infectious smile and his willingness to help any and every one he could.  He was a friend to everyone.

John was predeceased by parents William and Eva Murphy, and son Darren Murphy. He is survived by his wife of 49 years (although he would say 50) Thelma Murphy, sister Patty Budagher and husband Bob and their children Cynthia, Chylon and Bobby, brother Billy Murphy and his children Michael and Sean, daughter Kyla Murphy and her partner Steve Roybal, granddaughter Sara and her husband Travis May, great-granddaughters Aria and Abigail May, son Kevin Sanchez, grandsons Mitchell, Darren, and Adam Sanchez and granddaughter Emily Sanchez, daughter Leanne and her husband George Espiritu, grandsons Ethan and Alec Espiritu, and granddaughter Olivia Espiritu, grandson Gil Torrez and great-grandson Ezekiel Torrez, granddaughter Heather Torres and her partner Mike Ortiz, great-granddaughters Aubrey Castro, Madelyn Ortiz, and Mila Ortiz, grandson Zachary and his wife Shandyn Bird, great-grandkids Brielle, Cooper, Beckham, Wesleigh and Memphis Bird, grand-son Mackenzie Bird and his partner Harley Flores and numerous grand nieces and grand nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to best friends Carmen and Gloria Hernandez for their assistance and Danny Beavers and Ray Garcia’s tireless visits in John’s final days.

John touched so many lives and had so many friends, co-workers and loved ones. He will be greatly missed by all but never ever forgotten by even one.

A rosary will be held at St Anne Catholic Church in Santa Fe, NM on February 8th at 9:00 am with a mass to follow directly afterward at 10:00 am. Honorary Pallbearers will be Danny Beavers, Ray Garcia, Rudy Romero, Everett Ingram, and Lawerence Vigil. There will a memorial luncheon following the mass at the Courtyard by Marriott at 3347 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 Phone: (505) 473-2800. 

The family would like to request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Lamar University’s John Darren Murphy Memorial Scholarship-Psychology P.O. Box 10011 Beaumont, TX 77710.