Obituary of Leonard D. Murphy

Leonard D. Murphy (“Murph”), 86, of South Peabody, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at his home with his family at his side. He was the loving husband of Lillian (Jackson) Murphy with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. He was born in Salem, MA on October 7, 1927, the son of the late Richard J. and Mary (Lundergan) Murphy and was educated at St. John’sGrammar School, Peabody, and SalemVocational School and received his degree from Franklin Institute of Boston. He was first employed at the former A.C. Lawrence Leather Co. Peabody as a tinsmith. He then enlisted in the US Navy during WW II and served overseas aboard the light cruiser USS Fall River prior to his discharge in 1946. “Murph” returned to A.C. Lawrence for 25 years. He later was employed at the General Electric Co in Lynn as an aviation engine fabrication specialist for 25 years prior to his retirement. He enjoyed golfing and fishing but his joy was his grandchildren and watching them playing their sports by going to as many games as he could. He and his wife liked to vacation in New Hampshire, Maine and Foxwoods in CT. Len was a tireless, skilled home improvement enthusiast always working, teaching, and helping his family and friends with many construction and landscaping projects. “Murph” always enjoyed life, his family, and he loved to laugh and make other people laugh. “Murph” was a hard-working, caring, and gentle man. He is survived by his loving wife Lillian, two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Lorraine Murphy of Peabody and Rich and Barbara Murphy of Wrentham, a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and John Madore of Peabody, his cherished grandchildren, Jonathan Madore of Peabody, Jennifer (Murphy) and her husband Ben Beichey of New York City, and Kevin Murphy of Peabody, his many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren, and sisters-in-law Alberta (LeCain) Boylan and Ernestine Jackson. He was the brother of the late Joseph Murphy and the late Mary Neher. The entire Murphy family would like to acknowledge and thank all of the people from Care Dimensions hospice care who professionally and compassionately supported Len and his family during the past several months as well as those people who cared for Len to provide much-needed relief for family care-givers. A Visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 until 7:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody MA facility. His funeral will be held on Monday at 9:00 AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in St., Ann’s Church, So. Peabody at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in CedarGroveCemetery, Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite 102 B, Danvers, MA01960.