Thomas Murphy

Thomas Murphy, 79, of Ottawa, passed away very peacefully on Monday, October 6, 2014 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Reverend Duane Kaufman officiating.  Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, October 10 ^th , and from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be friends of Thomas and honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Thomas was born to Dewey Murphy and Margaret (Partridge) Murphy-Cox on August 25, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois.  Thomas lived in the Marseilles-Seneca-Ottawa area his entire life.  Thomas met and fell in love with high school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Helen.  They were wed in Ottawa, Illinois on October 24, 1956.  They were blessed with three children, Thomas (Shona) of Ottawa, Jack of Houston, Texas, and Lori (John) Warren of Ottawa.  He was the extremely proud Poppy of Rachel Chapman of Oglesby, Dale and Jerry MacKay of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Allison Warren of Ottawa and great grandfather of Cody and Devon Sharp of Oglesby.

Thomas was a retired tow-boat captain after spending more than 40 years in the river industry.  He captained many a barge on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.  During his retirement years, Thomas enjoyed bartending at his favorite watering holes, The Lazy L and K & J Tap.  He was a former member of the Moose Lodge 960 and the Marseilles Lions Club.  He enjoyed watching his favorite television shows and we believe he had seen every western movie that was ever made.  In his leisure he loved to just sit by the river for hours on end and watch the many boats pass by.  He also enjoyed scratch off tickets.  His most cherished times were those spent with his family and his cat, Prince, all of whom he loved dearly.

Thomas is survived by his three children; grandchildren; great grandchildren; sister in-laws, Shirley (Jack) Murphy of Seneca, Mary (Robert) Gage of Marseilles, and Delores (William) Weber of Ottawa; his brother in-law, Edward (Barbara) Miller of Ottawa; stepsister, Rita O’Neal of Marseilles; stepbrothers, James Wheeler of Marseilles, Edward Wheeler of Streator, and Russell “Corky” Wheeler of Florida; his beloved cat, Prince; several nieces and nephews; and extended family members, Trudy Closen, David Schimmelpfennig, and Amy (Schimmelpfennig) Henson.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; parents, stepmother, Helen Murphy; stepfather, Clifford Cox; three brothers, Edward, James, and Jackie; and two stepbrothers, William and Dick Wheeler.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.