Jerald Dean Murphy, 87, of Maryville, Missouri passed away on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Nodaway Nursing Home.
Jerald was born on February 2, 1938, in Maryville, Missouri to Dow and Maude (Reynolds) Murphy. He attended South Nodaway High School. Jerald served in the United States Army and was a heavy equipment operator with the Corp of Engineers.
He married Mary (Coulter) on September 8, 1957, in Maryville, Missouri. She survives of the home. Additional survivors include their children, Kimberly Simms - Husband Tim Simms, son Talon Simms, Tammy Murphy - Fiancée Ron Clements, sons Andrew Beggs, Grant Beggs -wife Margaret Beggs & Haden Beggs, Stephanie Dodgens, Sonya Buckles - Husband Travis Buckles, son Jory Jewett - wife Leudy Jewett, daughters Mackenzie Murphy, Mariah Ray- husband Shaun Ray, Cheyanne Morgan - husband Nick Morgan, Alexandria Kostynuk -husband Reno Kostynuk and Tesia Buckles, Tommy Murphy -daughter Lacey Ebrecht, sons Dakota Murphy, Logan Murphy, Chance Murphy and Quentin Ebrecht; Nieces Monica Bodle and Shirley Frieden; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters and four brothers, Phyllis Howard and Shirley Baker, Bill Murphy, Mike Murphy, Howard Murphy and John Murphy.
Mr. Murphy has been cremated under the care of Price Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 18th from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Guilford Community Center.
Words from the Children
~ Our wonderful Dad, remembered as the Gentle Giant, a light-hearted man who didn’t know a stranger, laughing his way through life. He could also be remembered as being ornery because he often asked his kids and grandkids to “pull his finger”. Eventually we caught on.
He and Mom would take us for rides around the racetrack in Guilford in the back of the pickup, feet dangling off the tailgate-the good ol’ days.
Dad worked construction a large part of his life and we would run out to his truck when he got home because we knew he would have candy bars for us in his lunchbox. He told us how he helped build some of the clover leaf interchanges in Kansas City and wouldn’t hesitate to critique more recent dirt work along the road. He also took us to the river, that was our swimming pool and many times Dad would take a bar of soap and many times that was his bathtub.
Dad loved to fish, garden, play cards with family and friends, sing and draw. He was a great artist with a creative imagination. What a talented guy!
Dad, you will be missed, until we meet again.
