Lawrence A. Murphy, husband of the late Charlotte A. Murphy, passed away peacefully at the home of his son, Attorney Steve Murphy, just as the sun rose Thursday morning, May 4, 2023.
Laurie was born in Brockton on May 17, 1924 to John J. Murphy and Rosie Murphy. He spent his formative years on the east side of his beloved city sharing his childhood with his older brother Joe and his sister Louise. As he grew attending elementary, junior H.S. and Brockton High, he made many friends, including Mario LoGiudice, Larry Wetterholm and Eddie Keenan, with whom he spent many an afternoon and early evening playing ball and growing life long friendships.
Larry, on Dec. 7, 1941, had just seen a cowboy movie at the Brockton Theater with his buddy Eddy Keenan. Leaving the theatre, little did he know that the next 5 years would be spent, with all those of the Greatest Generation, defending his nation and the world during WWII. Both his brother Joe and he left for war, Laurie attending the Merchant Marine Academy in Hyannis and later the United States Navy. Graduating from the academy, he was assigned to an ammunition ship carrying the necessary ammo, first, to Normandy, then to General Patton who would relieve the army at the Battle of the Bulge and, lastly, in the North Atlantic where enemy submarines constantly looked to sink US ammo merchant ships. One of the greatest losses, Lt Murphy suffered was when his best friend Eddie Keenan died at 19 years after fighting in the Pacific for the United States Marines. This loss stayed with Laurie his entire life.
Laurie met the love of his life one day at Brockton High School. He and Charlotte became good friends, a friendship which grew during World War II, and resulted in their marriage on January 14, 1950 at St. Colman’s Church in Brockton. Once home from a honeymoon to New York City, Larry and Charlotte began building their lives which meant for Laurie, a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at Boston University and a Doctorate later in his life.
While Larry and Charlotte worked together as writer and editor producing 24 award winning western and World War novels, Mr. Murphy’s career centered around education at the Huntington School and South Junior H. S. Over the last few days, the calls, notes and emails received by Steve and Dave Murphy have told the story of his of teaching, his yarns, his requirement of learning all the prepositions and the respect, admiration, and love his students over so many years still have for this good man.
Laurie and Charlotte in 1951 had their only son Steve and in 1985 their grandson David. They cherished the special times, whether at Red Sox games, in New York City for their 50th Anniversary, or at Disney World making beautiful memories which have lasted a lifetime.
Their love for Steve and David was great, and the last words spoken by this father, grandfather and great grampy and great papa to Heidi, Sam, Zoey, Bowen, Keltie, Matthew and Vera, were I love you.
Lawrence is survived by his son Attorney Steve Murphy of Centerville, his grandson David Murphy and his wife Jamie of Ridgefield Connecticut and his great grandchildren Heidi Murphy, Sam Murphy, Zoey Murphy, Bowen Gleeson, Keltie Gleeson, Matthew Lahaie, and Vera Lahaie.
This good man loved his family so very much, and this love extended to all other family members and friends. Laurie was a religious man and prayed every day to Mother Mary to watch over all the special ones he met, knew and cared for from his early childhood to early Thursday morning of this past week.
Brockton lost another champ this week. Today, he is with his special gal Charlotte and they are watching over all of us.
Be well mom and dad.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 3:30 – 7:30 pm, in the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte. 123) Brockton. The procession will gather at the funeral home on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 9:30 am, for a funeral mass at 10:30 am, in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 433 West Street, Brockton. Interment with military honors will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Centerville.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.