Louis George Murphy, 84, born in Newport, RI June 27, 1931, and lifelong resident until a move to Portsmouth, RI fifteen years ago, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 1, 2016 after a nine year battle with Parkinson’s disease. Louie was the middle of five children to predeceased parents Louis S. Murphy and Irene (Burns) Murphy. He is also predeceased by brothers Thomas and Robert Murphy, sons-in-law, Robert Campbell and Robert Raymond. Siblings Irene (Murphy) Gilles of Utica, NY and Leonard Murphy, of Newport, RI and their spouses, Stephen and Christine, survive Louie.
Louie was married to his devoted wife of 62 years, Alice Shirley (Schoenrock) Murphy. He has five adult children who also survive him and will miss him always. They are Kathleen Raymond, Mary Alice Chrabascz and husband Carl, Louis and wife, Kara, Jean Kirwin and husband, Peter and Robert and wife Lisa. Grandchildren who will remember their Papa as a warm, funny, family man include Alicia Maguire, Keelan Murphy, Katherine Snyder, Max Kirwin, Mathew Murphy, Hayley Kirwin, Andrew Chrabascz, Louie and Madeline Murphy. Great grandchildren Connor Maguire and Rosalind Murphy were additional joys that Louie was fortunate to experience in the past two years. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A teacher for 32 years, Louie began his early career in the Middletown Public Schools before teaching in the Newport system for his remaining 30 years. He was Chair of the Social Studies Department at Rogers High School for 15 years. An invested senior class advisor, annually Louie took busloads of students to experience Washington, DC. He thoroughly enjoyed the myriad students who crossed his path in all his years of teaching and often mentioned former students fondly after running into them during his retirement.
Dedicated to his spiritual life, Louie served as a Lector at St. Augustin’s Church in Newport for many years before then serving as a long time Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary’s Church. Invested in the community, Louie served on the Board of Directors for the People’s Credit Union for over 30 years and did the same for Hazard’s Beach on the Ocean Drive. In the 1970s and 80s Louie managed the local residential operations for the America’s Cup Syndicate crew who raced in Newport waters.
Family first was always the way that Louie lovingly conducted his life and he passed this strong value onto his children. Louie was an avid backyard gardener who also committed every family and friend event to memory through thousands of pictures taken over sixty years. He will be remembered as a humorous, kind, gentle, yet strong man, always ready to help and terribly missed by those who love him.
Calling hours will be from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St., Newport on Thursday, May 5, 2016. Family and friends are invited to join in a celebration of Louie’s life at a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church, Spring St., Newport on Friday, May 6, 2016. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, Brown’s Lane in Middletown, RI.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Mary’s Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 547, Newport, RI 02840.
