Tribute to Larry and Molly Murphy
Last week while attending the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber Breakfast, we received a most unexpected blessing. A popular storyteller in the area, and fan of Fisher House, Kelly Murphy-Redd shared a story about our parents. I asked her for the message and it is posted below. Please read it in that quiet of a moment, and celebrate the humanity it captures in every single word. Get to know this family, and remember them. Larry and Molly made a difference in the lives of a lot of people, many they will never know, but thanks to Kelly, their legacy will live on. Kelly and her spouse live in Niceville, and through her affection for her parents made a memorial contribution to continue making a difference in the lives of the families staying with us for hope and healing. This tribute to Larry and Molly describes perfectly the families we serve, the sacrifices, hardships, joys and sorrows that we all experience as humans. And yes, Ya’ll, Kelly is a storyteller……
Tribute to Larry and Molly Murphy
I would like to introduce you to my parents.
Molly Murphy came from humble beginnings in New Mexico. She met my Dad, Larry Murphy in Phoenix, Arizona and they were married in 1959.
Mom was beautiful, funny, quirky, determined, feisty, and good at whatever she tried to do. She was a great cook and a good golfer. She was up for any challenge. She loved dogs. She was a sports fanatic. Her teams were the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Braves. She loved us fiercely.
Mom went to heaven on January 21, 2018 after battling a form of Muscular Dystrophy. It physically took her smile away. She suffered a lot. She was in terrible pain, couldn’t walk, and couldn’t swallow. She never complained. Mom was the strongest person I’ve ever known. Dad made sure to take care of her at home.
Dad moved back here after Mom left us. They had lived in Destin for 18 years. Dad retired from the Air Force as a full-bird Colonel at Eglin.
Dad also came from humble beginnings and was raised in Antigo Wisconsin. A West Point graduate, Dad served for 29 years and was a fighter pilot in Viet Nam. He was there for 320 days and flew 306 missions. Among his other medals, I found two Distinguished Flying Crosses in the attic. One of the medals was pinned on by General Benjamin Davis. One of the citations reads as follows:
“Captain Lawrence J. Murphy distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 tactical fighter pilot near Binh Thuy, Republic of Vietnam on 4 November 1967. On that date Captain Murphy came to the aid of friendly units who were heavily engaged with a large hostile force while trying to evacuate a group of friendly dead and wounded. The singularly brilliant ordinance deliveries in close proximity to friendly units while under heavy automatic weapons fire were directly responsible for the relief of the friendly troops and the evacuation of their dead and wounded. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Murphy reflect great credit upon himself and the United states Air Force.”
I had found out my Dad was a hero. But, then, we knew that. He always did the right things and the hard things.
Ted, you met my Dad at the ODA595 dinner last year. Dad thought it was a very special night. Dad told great stories and he enjoyed the stories that night. Little did we know that it was to be one of the highlights of the last year of his life. He had made so many friends. I threw him a surprise birthday party. It made him so happy. We had a good Thanksgiving and Christmas.
My Dad went to heaven on February 18th. I am heartbroken. He was fine and then he wasn’t. We fought for a month-and-a-half. But we lost.
My parents always kept us safe, took care of us, made sure we had a childhood, and always, always made our lives better. They were always there for us.
Which brings me to why I am here today. I want people to know Mom and Dad existed and their names to live on. In honor of my Mom and Dad, on their behalf, and BECAUSE of them, I am honored to present a check to One Hopeful Place for $10,000.00 and a check to Fisher House for $10,000.00.
Thank you Mom and Dad. I love you.
Kelly Murphy-Redd