February 15, 1935 - December 11, 2020
Gerald Frederick Murphy, the son of Frederick Joseph Murphy and Mary Rose Murphy [Hatch], a loving husband of 59 years, an amazing father, and a wonderful and caring 'Santa Grampa', suddenly passed away at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria on Friday, December 11th at 9:35 pm. He was surrounded by his loving family, with distant family members remotely available to say their goodbyes.
He is survived by his loving wife Lynne Murphy, his son and daughter, Don (Melissa) and Susan (Jay), and his grandchildren Kyli, Jasmine, Chase, Graeson, Caellan, Ryder and great grandchildren, Eric and Alexander.
He was born in the land of the Bluenose on February 15th, 1935 surrounded by a very colorful, very proud, and very large extended Nova Scotian family. Although, he lived on beautiful Vancouver Island for the majority of his life, his heart had never left Nova Scotia! He would fondly reminisce of the East Coast, its beauty, and the friends and family that still reside in his home province.
He was an extremely proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who he fondly considered his second family. His adventure with the military started in Halifax at the early age of 17 in 1951.
His journey with the military gave him the opportunity to travel the world, and all corners of Canada, until 1983 when he proudly retired as a Warrant Officer with the 407 Demon squadron. His experiences, and the bonds of friendship he formed along the way, provided an 'endless' supply of stories of adventure around the coffee table, resulting in surprise, awe, and a tremendous amount of laughter.
He was instrumental in his involvement with the Alcohol Recovery program at CFB Greenwood and CFB Comox, and was a long standing member and supporter of AA in both communities.
He was extremely proud of his sobriety, and his involvement with this community, which extended for more than 60 years, touching the lives of hundreds of other individuals he sponsored. He could never say enough about those he befriended in this community.
In his early retirement, he earnestly dedicated much of his time with the Fish Advisory committee in the Comox Valley. He also spent nearly every day racing across the 'salt chuck' in his 17 ft Lund and 90 horse Evinrude, looking for that ever elusive 'spring'!
He "never" tired of his search! And when he hit the throttle.., you had better be hanging on to your hat! His hair, or what little hair he had left, would whip behind him in the wind like frozen ropes!
He was 'truly happy' on the water!
He loved to work on outboard motors, but really enjoyed fixing the motors of his fellow fishermen and friends. Many times he would generously spend his time repairing motors that were considered a 'lost cause'. Yet he happily donated his spare parts, coffee, and plenty of stories of that fish, that was significantly enlarged by the magnifying glass of memory.
I for one will never forget you Dad! My memory of you will forever be too big for my heart!
Now..., whenever I see a skiff 'ripping' across the water, skipping like a stone across 'the chuck'.., I will remember the times we had on the water and think of you with one hand on the wheel, the other on the throttle, and your grin that stretched for miles!
We will forever love and miss you Dad!
Remember to turn your hat around when you hit the throttle the next time you are on the water!