Eugene Murphy

EUGENE "MURPH" MURPHY April 13, 1942 - Nov 6, 2010 Eugene Mason Murphy passed away peacefully with his family by his side on November 6, 2010, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was born to Ruth and Ralph Murphy on April 13, 1942, in Forest Grove, Oregon. He lived between Eugene, OR and Chico, CA until graduating from South Eugene High in 1960. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1965. While stationed in Deluth, Minnesota he met Joan Almer. They married and had 3 children, Michael, Melissa and Martin Murphy. They were later divorced. Eugene graduated in 1969 from Chico State with a degree in Psychology. He worked as a Butte County Probation Officer until 1989 when he went to work as a Parole Officer for the Calif. Dept. of Corrections. In 1981, he met Judy McNichols and they married in 1982 on the Baccala Ranch in Chester. Eugene ran track in high school, fun runs in the Chico area and continued running until this last year. He loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He enjoyed camping, hiking and time in the mountains. He leaves behind his loving wife and best friend, Judy Murphy; son, Michael, his wife, Ann; grandsons, Jack and Nicholas, Chico; daughter, Melissa Tupman, her husband, Chad; grand-daughters, Brooklyn and Shailyn of Etna; son, Martin, and grandsons, Hank and Nathan of Chico; stepson, Jon McNichols, wife, Toshia; grandchildren, Duncan and Alanna of Magalia and stepson, Aaron McNichols and fiance, Kathleen Hall of Truckee; brothers, Jerry Murphy of Petaluma, David Murphy of Sequim, WA and his sister, Janet Pettit of Eugene, OR. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., November 19, 2010, at Butte Creek Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association