James Lee Murphy, 81, of Peoria, formerly of Norwood, passed away peacefully at 4:15 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at Heartis Village in Peoria.
Jim was born Sept. 18, 1936, in Peoria to James A. and Rena V. (Newell) Murphy.
Surviving are five children, Cassie (Dave) Myers of Peoria, Patrick (Lori) Murphy of Bartonville, Mickey (Vince) Wieland of Dunlap, Lisa Sonney of Peoria and Erin (Trevor) Reed of Clearwater, Fla.; 13 grandchildren, Jason Myers, Nicole (Bryan) Hougham, Renee (Stephen) Bogart, Nathan Murphy, Andrea (Chad) TeBeest, Kayla (Mike) Schneider, Tarah (Tom) Meister, Laken (Jerry) Garcia, Erika (Tyler) Scheirer, Kaitlyn Sonney, Ethan (Kelsey) Hajnal and Emma and Matt Reed; and 19 great-grandchildren. Jim also leaves behind his brother, Jack D. Murphy of Sparland; many cousins, nephews and nieces; along with countless friends including a very special friend, Sharon Miller
He was preceded in death by his parents; birth father, Thomas “Pat” Murphy; the mother of his children, Joyce (Swanson) Haley; sister, Mary Jane Braun; and his partner, Doris Lipe.
Jim grew up in Chillicothe where he graduated high school before moving to Peoria. Jim retired from Keystone Steel and Wire as a millwright and was involved in politics at Keystone being elected as safety chairman. He was a certified OSHA Safety instructor at Keystone, a past member of the Bartonville Lion’s Club and was of the Baptist faith.
Jim never met a stranger always ready with a story to share usually ending with a hearty belly laugh. Murph enjoyed spending many winters in Texas walking the beaches where he was known as the "mighty shark's tooth hunter".
He loved nature, setting up his “bird sanctuary” for the residents to enjoy at Heartis and planting wild flowers wherever he could find an empty plot of soil. Many years ago he secured a grant to plant native Illinois prairie grasses at Alpha Park, with his good buddy, Hawk.
Jim was an entrepreneur from the time he was a small boy, selling turtles that he would catch on the riverbanks with his dog Brownie by his side, pulling his red wagon full of rhubarb going door-to-door and “junking” wherever he could find treasures.
He was a collector of many things but was especially fond of his Sooner Glass collection, displaying all of his unique pieces throughout his home and sharing them with those who would enjoy them as well.
A visitation will be Monday, Aug. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The Rev. Ken Linder will officiate. Burial will follow the service at Chillicothe City Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Hydrocephalus Association. Words of comfort can be shared with the family at www.woolsey-wilton.com.
