Harold Gene Murphy

Harold Gene “Poody” Murphy of New Philadelphia, died at his home on Wednesday, May 5, 2004, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 68.A son of the late Thomas Jefferson Murphy, Sr. and the late Helen Oreta Pyle Murphy, Gene was born on June 12, 1935, near Newport, OH.An active member of the l953 graduating class of Uhrichsville High School and a four-year letterman for the Tigers, Gene enjoyed attending the class’s 50th reunion last year, reminiscing with former classmates and friends.During the next 50 years after graduation, he was involved in a variety of major construction projects throughout Ohio, making friends wherever he went. As a carpenter and later superintendent of Gibbons and Grable Company in Canton, Gene helped in the construction of the new McKinley High School in Canton, the Clarkins Store, the Ohio Steel Tube Company in Shelby, the Canton Waste and Water Treatment Plant, and the Ohio Edison Power Plant in Lorain. He was the assistant superintendent at the Cardinal Power Plant project at Brilliant, foreman at Aultman Hospital’s new addition, the Canton Cultural Center, the Newmarket Hilton Hotel in Canton, and various projects at Akron University and the Timken Company in Canton. In association with the Stanly Miller Construction Company, he was the superintendent for the new addition at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport, and assisted in the building of the new Tuscarawas County Jail; with Hammond Construction, he assisted with the gymnasium addition at Mt. Union College; and with Gundy Construction, he was superintendent for the new Abbott Electric Building in New Philadelphia and the Dover Water and Waste Treatment Plant.He was married to the former M. Catherine “Kathy” Murrell, in the First United Church of Christ by the Rev. Dr. William A. Huenemann, and with her raised a family of four.Gene was a talented musician and song writer and began playing the rhythm guitar and singing on WJER and WBTC Radio with the band led by his brother, Bill Murphy. He also performed at Hillbilly Park in Newark with Leroy Van Dyke, Wilma Lee, and Stoney Cooper, Rusty and Doug Kershaw, Grandpa Jones, and the Wilburn Brothers, and at a special “Tuscarawas County Night” at the WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling West Virginia with Bill Murphy, Danny Ford, and the Harmony Twins.. For about 20 years, he led his own band, “The Country Bunch” and played for square dances at the Bolivar and Zoar Fire Stations and at the New Philadelphia Elks Club. .Gene was a Master Mason and a member of New Philadelphia Lodge #177, F & A.M.He was also a member of Carpenter’s Local #69, the Nazir Grotto in Canton, and a former member of the Musician’s Union #404.Following his retirement, he spent many hours on his farm, caring for the animals, fishing, and visiting with family and friends. He also devoted time to watching the Indians’ baseball games on television and going to livestock auctions. Throughout his life, Gene was a spiritual man with a strong faith in the Lord. He especially enjoyed reading the Bible, watching Billy Graham, and conversing with his brother, Bill, and sister and brother-in-law, Roy and Mary Scott, about matters of faith.Gene is survived by his wife, his daughter, C. Vicky (Jim) Law of Dover; sons, Robert G. (Becky) Murphy, David W. Murphy, and Jerry L. Murphy and Courtney J. McLandsborough (and her daughter, Alyssa M. Blake), all of New Philadelphia; grandchildren, J. Andrew and Carissa B. Law; Jessica E. and Ryan G. Murphy; and Miranda J. and Adrian L. Murphy; sisters Martha L. (Jim) Chaney of Tippecanoe, and Mary E. (Roy) Scott of New Philadelphia; brothers, William D. (Mary) Murphy of Uhrichsville, Richard D. (Rita) Murphy of Winchester, CA, and Thomas J. (Arlene) Murphy, Jr., of Uhrichsville; half-brother, Larry L. (Cindy) Murphy of Port Washington; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister, Sarah A. Sergent Rice.Friends may call on the family at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon, May 9, between 2:00 and 5:00 pm, or Monday morning, between 9:30 and 10:30 am. Masonic services will be Sunday at 1:45. A funeral service to celebrate Gene’s life will be conducted by his brother-in-law, Roy D. Scott, in the Geib Chapel on Monday, May 10, at 10:30 am. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in New Philadelphia. Following the committal, the family will host a reception at the Geib Family Center.Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 W. Third Street, Dover, OH, 44622.