Edward Smith Murphy

1925 — 2024

Edward Smith Murphy, our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed quietly into the arms of his loving Father in Heaven, January 23, 2024, at the age of 98. Born December 12, 1925, in Ogden, Utah, Edward was the second son of Howard and Mabel Ogden Smith Murphy. Edward was preceded in death by his parents; an older infant sister; Howard Lloyd, an older brother; and his wife, Marilyn. He is survived by his four sons: Howard, Philip (Renée), Michael (Elizabeth), and John (Leslee). He also leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 11 great- grandchildren.

Tragically, Edward’s father passed away when he was only eight years old, leaving his mother a widow for over sixty years. As a fatherless child in the Great Depression, he and his brother were raised by his mother and both grandfathers, Fred Smith, a range-riding cowboy, trader, and store keeper, George Murphy, Civil War Union Army veteran and scout for the historic Central Pacific as they built the transcontinental railroad. They taught him the value of grit, determination, and hard work. He excelled in school. He enjoyed mathematics, literature, drama, and public speaking. He loved fishing in Ogden Canyon to help provide food for his best friend’s family. In addition, he and his brother put in many long hours before and after school in their grandfather’s Curio Store on 25th Street. Edward graduated from Ogden High School in 1944.

Immediately after graduation, Edward entered the U. S. Army to fight in World War II. At Camp Roberts, California, he was trained in the use of mortars and bazookas. Arriving in the Philippines on the Luzon Coast, a rifle was shoved in his hands: “Murphy, we don’t need mortar men! Here’s your rifle!” He learned to use it the hard way. As part of the 149th Regiment of the 38th Infantry Division, he participated in some of the most horrific fighting in the Philippines as he and his fellow soldiers fought their way through the dense rainforest jungles and highlands of Luzon.

Following his military service, Edward was accepted at Idaho State University in Pocatello, where he graduated with a degree in Pharmacy in 1950. On a student tour of Mexico, Edward met Marilyn Tanner, the love of his life. They were married on June 22, 1952, in Provo, Utah.

Over the course of the next several years, Edward worked as a pharmacist in Idaho and Utah, eventually settling in Layton, Utah. He was devoted to his craft and served professionally ten to twelve hours a day from 1951 to 2014. He retired after sixty-three years, at age 89.

Dad loved traveling. He loved taking long daily walks; visiting Yellowstone, Bryce, and Zion National Parks; and exploring anywhere the beauty of the Earth took him. He loved a good round of dominoes, checkers, and pinochle. He enjoyed drama, poetry, and history. He especially enjoyed literature and was particularly fond of Shakespeare, Donne, Dickens, Eliot, Trollope, and Thackeray. As his children were growing up, Dad often read aloud great books, poetry, history, encyclopedia articles, and snatches from his collection of Harvard Classics as bedtime stories. He loved great music and often attended classical concerts and opera.

Edward was a deeply religious man who worshiped the Lord with all his heart at the Clearfield Community Church. For over half a century, he served the congregation as an adult Sunday School Teacher, a volunteer assignment he dearly loved. Year after year, he went through the Bible verse by verse, learning much of it by heart all the while savoring all of it in his heart.

Shortly before his beloved Marilyn passed, Edward revisited his early talent for composing poetry. Over the next two decades, Edward published four books of poetry, including a collection of his works, Seedlings: The Collected Poetry of Edward Smith Murphy.

Now Edward is gone, and his family sorrows. We love him so much that with his passing we have and will continue to shed many tears. Yet we know where Dad is. He is reunited with his Savior and his loved ones who passed beyond the veil before him. Dad is happy, and even though death is always bittersweet, we are profoundly grateful for his good life and example. The Lord’s joyous will be done in all things.

Our debt of gratitude for the special support, love, and care Dr. Diane Wilson has unwaveringly shown our father and family over the past decades cannot be fully expressed. God bless you, Diane! Another special thank you for his love and warm friendship goes to the late Reverend Richard Axman who demonstrated what Christianity is all about. The family would also like to thank Enhabit Home Health and Hospice who helped Dad through his last few days.

Funeral services for Edward will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton following the funeral service.

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Edward’s obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com.

Flowers may be sent to Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah.

Condolences may be sent to www.lindquistmortuary.com