Norman Leroy Murphy
Norman Leroy Murphy, 78, formerly of Nappanee, Ind., died peacefully in his home at Waterford Crossing in Goshen, Ind., Friday evening Aug. 16, 2013. He had been ill since October of last year.
He was born March 19, 1935, in Riley, Ind., to Arthur and Esther (Clark) Murphy. He married Yvonne (Secrest) Murphy on Dec. 23, 1959, at the Beech Evangelical United Brethren Church outside of Coal City, in Owen County, Ind. They were happily married for over 53 years.
Norman graduated in 1953 from Gerstmeyer Technical High School in Terra Haute, Ind., and in 1958 from Indiana State Teachers College where he was conferred a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Speech and Hearing Therapy. In 1961, he earned a Master of Science in Special Education, also from Indiana State University.
During his 40 year career, Norman worked for the Wa-Nee School Corporation as a speech and hearing therapist, school psychologist, and the director of Special Education and for Elkhart County Special Education Cooperative as pre-school coordinator and school psychologist.
He is survived by his wife: Yvonne; one daughter, Cynthia Murphy, Goshen; three sons: Shannon (Shelley) Murphy, Nappanee; Kevin (Angie) Murphy, South Bend, Ind; and Stanley (Irene Ortiz), Nappanee; seven grandchildren: Megan Murphy, Chelsey (Geoff) Barrell, Bailey and Delaney Murphy, Jade Murphy (daughter of Tricia Alderman), and Kaylee and Sloan Murphy; three step grandchildren: Hunter Townley, Austin DeVreese and Cody Alderman; a great-grandchild: Claire Elizabeth Barrell.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, and for 1 hour prior to the 11 a.m. funeral service Friday at the Nappanee United Methodist Church. Rev. Jim Davidson and Pastor Teresa Dutchersmith will officiate. Burial will be in Union Center Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to Goshen Home Care and Hospice, the American Heart Association, the National Parkinson’s Foundation, or a charity of your choice.