LARNED — Melvin M. Murphy Sr. 91, died July 5 at Country Place Senior Living in Larned. Born Sept. 24, 1920, in Pawnee County, he was the son of John Elmer and Elizabeth Wilhelm Murphy. A lifetime area resident, he was a farmer/stockman. On March 15, 1941, he married Leona Kathleen Byrum at Wichita, where he worked for Beechcraft, and in 1945 he moved to the family farm west of Larned. Leona died March 6, 2003.
Mr. Murphy was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Co-op Board for Sanford, Fort Larned Lions Club, ASCS Board, The Fairfield Grange, Clerk for Morton Township, served at the meet and greet, and loved to be the auctioneer for the church, all of Larned.
Survivors include a son, Melvin Murphy Jr. of Larned; three daughters, Jacquelynn Murphy Schulze of Larned, Derinda Lea Folkerts of Great Bend and Ruth Ann Bruce of Leawood; a brother, Robert O. Murphy of Larned; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, John D. Murphy and Lester Murphy; and two sisters, Nora Blackburn and Verna Lea Kirkwood.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church in Larned with the Rev. Bethann Black presiding. Burial will be at the Larned Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1-8 p.m. on Sunday with family present from 6:30-8 p.m., at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned. Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church or the Golden Belt Hospice in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwith Mortuary
P.O. Box 477
Larned, KS, 67550
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 6, 2012