John “Leo” Murphy, 85

John “Leo” Murphy, 85, of Blair, died Friday, March 16, 2007, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair. A funeral Mass was held Monday, March 19, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Interment was in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Blair.

John Murphy was born July 12, 1921, in Blair, to John Andrew and Sadie Louise (Reid) Murphy. He attended the Maney School and Blair High School. He grew up in Blair, moving to Omaha at the age of 16.

On April 3, 1940, he married Audrey Livermore at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Omaha. She preceded him in death on March 12, 1991.

Mr. Murphy farmed in the Omaha area all his life, raising cattle, hogs and grain. He also operated a mowing service in Omaha.

In 1968, he started a country and western band that he continued to perform with until 1990.

He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus men’s meeting, St. Leo’s Catholic Church, where he served as an usher, and for the last two years, was a member of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair.

He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Shirley and Bernie Wilmes of Aurora, Colo., Carrol and Collin Kollars of Sioux Falls, S. D., and Betty Murphy of Omaha; son and daughter-in-law, John and Marcie Murphy of Fort Calhoun; 18 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law, Rick Schure of Humphrey, and Adolph Perchal of Gretna.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey; two daughters, Loretta and Marylin; two brothers, Bill and Bernard; and two sisters, Bernadettte and Maude.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Omaha World Herald 18 March 2007

MURPHY – Leo, J., age 85, Blair, NE, formerly of Omaha. Survived by 3 daughters and sons-in-law, Shirley and Bernie Wilmes, Aurora, CO, Carrol and Collin Kollars, Sioux Falls, SD, Betty Murphy, Omaha; son and daughter-in-law, John and Marcie Murphy, Ft. Calhoun, NE; 2 sons-in-law, Rick Schure, Humphrey, NE, Adolph Perchal, Gretna, NE; 18 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by wife, Audrey; 2 daughters, Loretta and Marylin; 2 brothers, Bill and Bernard; 2 sisters, Bernadette and Maude.

Mass of Christian Burial 10 am Monday St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Blair, NE. Burial Holy Cross, Blair, NE. VISITATION starts 12 pm Sunday with Rosary at 7 pm at Funeral Home.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home Blair, NE 402-426-2191

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

FindaGrave # 229733851