Leslie Owen Murphy, 92, passed away Friday, May 11, 2018, at the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Rock Port, Missouri. He was born June 20, 1925, to Byron and Wreta Murphy in their home near Blanchard, Iowa. Later the family moved to the Ranch 8 Farm east of Tarkio. After graduating from Tarkio High School in 1943, Leslie farmed with his father and brother Duane before joining the military. He served in the army during the Korean War. He became a member of the American Legion Post 315 in Burlington Junction, Missouri.
Leslie married Jane (Greeley) of Burlington Junction and together they had three children, Becky, Mike and Jim. On March 16, 1990, he married JoAnn Graves and soon after they moved to Mt. Vernon, Missouri, to manage the 4 Bar F Ranch. After retiring from farm and ranch work they moved to Aurora, Missouri, where Les became a driver and parts courier for a local auto dealership until the age of 92 when he and JoAnn moved back to Fairfax, Missouri.
Murfs lifelong passion was raising foxhounds and Quarter horses. He enjoyed field dog trials, horse shows and trail rides. Mostly, he loved being around people with those same interests. He gained quite a reputation for trading and selling dogs and horses. In later years he enjoyed reading books, mostly western paperbacks, of course!
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife JoAnn, daughter Rebecca Murphy, and stepson Jack Graves.
He is survived by sons Michael (Krista) Murphy, Tarkio, Missouri, and James Murphy, Fairfax, Missouri; grandson Scott (Jill) Murphy, Caden and Kylie, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; granddaughters Andrea (Craig) Labore, Jacob and Madelyn, Grantham, New Hampshire, and Karla (Chip) Morgan, Jackson and Alex, St. Joseph, Missouri; grandson Jesse Murphy, Liam and Cosette, Emporia, Kansas; granddaughters Synthia Tunnel and Lindley, Sara Murphy (Austin), St. Joseph, Missouri; Frankie Hughes (Jace), Ariella, Aubrey and Amira, Omaha, Nebraska; Ethan Moffitt (Les’s mini me), Hobbs, New Mexico; sister Lucille Hayes, Elmwood Park, Illinois; brother Duane Murphy, St. Joseph, Missouri; stepchildren Marcia (Stephen) Showalter, Terry (George) Young, Bill (Shirley) Graves, Bob Graves, and step-daughter-in-law Kay Graves; step-grandchildren, Jon (Beth), Jarod (Courtney) Graves, Jayne (Tim) McFarland, Brent and Seth Showalter, Tyler (Laura), Trey, Mallory Fisher, Calvin, Casey, Levi and Wyatt Graves; and step-great-grandchildren, Jaycee, Jesse, and Braden Graves, Maverick, Kal and Maelea McFarland, Ryker Parks and Mikey Fisher.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 26, 2018, at River of Hope Fellowship Church, Forest City, Missouri. Graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Tarkio Home Cemetery, Tarkio, Missouri.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Rolla Dicks American Legion Post 315, Burlington Junction, Missouri, in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements are under the direction of Schooler Funeral Home, Fairfax, Missouri.
Leslie Owen Murphy
May 22, 2018