Father James Murphy, 94, dies at Spalding

Rev. James E. Murphy, 94, retired priest, beloved brother, uncle, and a very loved and important part of the communities of Spalding and Ericson, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at his home in Spalding, NE.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 29, 2021 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Spalding, NE with Most Reverend Joseph G. Hanefeldt. Rev. Antony Thekkekara, and Rev. Joseph Hannappel officiating. The mass will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/FamiliesInFaithCatholic/. Interment will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Spalding, NE with military rites by American Legion Post #299 of Spalding, NE. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, with a 7:00 p.m. Rosary at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Ericson, NE and 1-7 p.m. Thursday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Spalding, with a 7:00 p.m. wake service. Current Covid-19 DHM’s in effect, including social distancing, will be followed at all services and masks will be required for those in attendance.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s favorite charity. Levander Funeral Home of Spalding, NE is in charge of the arrangements.

Reverend James Edward Murphy, the fifth of seven children born to James Emmett and Margaret (O’Brien) Murphy, was born February 17, 1926 at Spalding, NE, and was raised on a farm northeast of Spalding, NE. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Spalding and attended Spalding Academy, graduating in 1943. Following high school, he tried his hand at farming, the hotel business and even worked for the railroad, prior to entering the United States Army in 1945.

Following an honorable discharge in 1947, Jim Murphy found his calling and enrolled in classes at St. John’s Seminary in Little Rock, AR. He graduated and was ordained on May 3, 1955 and said his first Mass in his home parish in Spalding, NE, surrounded by family and friends. His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. James in Kearney, NE. His various assignments from 1961-1993 had him serving parishes, missions, summer youth retreats, Catholic Daughters, and deaneries in western and central Nebraska communities including: Mitchell, Morrill, Alliance, Chadron, Scottsbluff, Lyman, Bayard, Ainsworth, Wood Lake, Valentine, St. Paul and Wolbach.

In 1993, Fr. Murphy retired from fulltime ministry to his family farm near Spalding, NE, to farm with his brother Clete, which brought him great joy.  As a part-time priest, he continued to celebrate weekend liturgies at St. Theresa’s in Ericson, NE, co-teaching RCIA classes, along with concelebrating many wedding, funeral and other special masses at St. Michael’s in Spalding and other various parishes. In 2019, Fr. Murphy, along with his family, received the Ak-Sar-Ben Pioneer Farm Award at the Greeley County Fair for continuing to own the farm their parents purchased for 100 years continuously, which gave him much pride.

Fr. Murphy had a love for travel which took him on trips across the United States, to Alaska and abroad to Holland, Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Swiss Alps, on a cruise down the Rhine River, New Zealand, Egypt, Australia, England, Panama Canal and five trips to his beloved Ireland. Many of his travels included his passion for Mexican food and music, as well as polkas.

He is survived by one brother Mike Murphy of California (who subsequently passed away in the hours following Fr. Murphy’s death); many nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, many special friends, neighbors and community members, his brother priests, along with all of his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Fr. Murphy was preceded in death by his parents James and Margaret Murphy; three brothers: Eugene, Cletus and Frank Murphy; and two sisters: Mary Alice McCarthy and Noreen Kearns