Cornelius "Con" Eugene Murphy

Cornelius “Con” Murphy passed away peacefully on April 20, 2018 at Providence Medical Center in Walla Walla, WA.   He was born on May 20, 1939 to George Eugene Murphy and Marion J O’Shea in Great Falls, Montana.

Con was passionate about education and dearly enjoyed working with children and staff.  In 1977 he moved from Montana to College Place, Washington where he was Superintendent of Schools for College Place School District for 24 years.  In 1986 he was awarded as one of the top 100 Executive Educators in North America.  Con was also actively involved in many state and local boards and committees.   He retired in 2001 spending winters in Mesa, Arizona.  Hel loved going to the spring training baseball games and living in what he liked to call his “little tin hut in the desert”.  During his time in Arizona he developed many long lasting friendships and relationships with people all over the world.

He took great pride in his Irish Heritage with St. Patrick’s Day being his favorite day of the year.  He was well known for dressing up as a Leprechaun and visiting each elementary classroom to hand out “gold coins”.  Teachers and students alike looked forward to this day each and every year.

Con had a wonderful sense of humor and knew how to make others laugh.  He was a family man and always put his family first.  He will be greatly missed by those he knew and loved.  But we know his Irish Eyes are smiling down on us from Heaven.

Con is survived by his wife Rose Mary, son Michael, daughter Laurie, grandson Nicolas, brother Daniel, sister-in-law’s Lennie and Joan Murphy and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held April 27, 2018 at 1:00PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church; Funeral Mass will follow at 1:30PM with Father Matthew Nicks, Celebrant. Interment and Concluding Services will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, WA.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Walla Walla Cancer Center in his name, through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla. WA.