WEST BALDWIN – John “Jack” Lawrence Murphy Jr, age 85, passed away on July 1, 2026, at his home after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s and cancer.
He was born in South River, New Jersey on February 4, 1941, son of the late John and Frances (Hollfelder) Murphy. After graduating from LaSalle Military Academy, he attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with degrees in Accounting and Civil Engineering. He met Kathy in Seaside Park, New Jersey and they were married on June 8, 1968. After spending an adventurous summer in Montana, they moved to Deale, Maryland for a brief stint and on to Maine in 1970 as Jack wanted to be near the mountains and Kathy near the ocean. They bought the farm in Baldwin in 1972 as their family outgrew their space in Windham. Over the years, Jack worked for E.C. Jordan, Regional Waste System, and the City of Portland, before starting his own business. He was a traffic engineer for over 40 years, performed soils tests, and worked on the farm in his “spare time.” Jack enjoyed spending time on the farm with his family, dogs, and cattle as well as pheasant hunting and fishing. Just as his father taught him, Jack passed along the skill of playing pool to his children. In his younger years, Jack played a great deal of rugby. He was a town selectman, a member of the planning board, and board of appeals.
He is survived by his wife - Kathy (Irwin) Murphy; his children – Kevin Murphy and wife Jana of Baldwin, Kathleen Krebs and husband Jeff of Limington, Diana Jordan and husband Patrick of Baldwin, and Erin Austin and husband Brett of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; brother – Mike Murphy and wife Lucy of Paget, Bermuda; 9 grandchildren - Mckenzie, Michael, Michaela, Lauren, Hayley, Addison, Keagan, Maeve, and Daelyn; 1 great grandson – Silas; nephew – Tucker and niece -Laura.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, July 14th from 4-6 PM at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple St, Cornish. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com
The Murphy family extends a special thank-you to Jack’s caregivers and Northern Light Homecare and Hospice who enabled him to stay at home during his illness.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Northern Light Homecare and Hospice www.northernlighthealth.org.