Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Joseph Edward Murphy (Joe), 67, of Hood River, Oregon, was born in Mamaroneck, New York, on April 4,1958, to Robert F. Murphy and Charlotte Ostrowski Murphy. He later moved to Hopewell Junction, New York, where he graduated from John Jay High School in 1976. He attended college at the University of South Dakota, where he was the president of his fraternity, Alpha Chi Lambda. Joe served his country as an active-duty National Guardsman for six years from 1988-1994, when he was honorably discharged.
Joe had a wonderful sense of humor and was a grateful and humble man. He adored his wife of 30 years, Lee (gigi). When they married in 1996, they acquired custody of his two and her three sons and proceeded to raise five adolescent boys to be kind and good men, one of Joe’s proudest accomplishments.
During these years, Joe had a calling to become a carpenter by day, and a Bible teacher and father figure for incarcerated teenagers, whom he met with weekly for more than 15 years at NORCOR. The pandemic ended that privilege in 2020.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his two eldest brothers, Richard L. Murphy and Robert A. Murphy.
Joe is survived by his wife, Lee (gigi) Murphy; two sons, Andrew Murphy (Angie), Huntsville, Alabama, and Patrick Murphy (Emee), Kahuku, Hawaii; three stepsons, Tanner Galvin (Heidi Byrne), and Will Galvin (Charlotte), Portland, Oregon, and Duncan Galvin (Jess Clemons), The Dalles, Oregon; nine grandchildren; and his siblings Rosanne Claunch, Linda Robbennolt, George Murphy, Edith Smith, and John Murphy.
He shared a love of golf with his two sons, Andrew and Patrick, playing whenever they got together, and enjoyed playing with his brother-in-law, Steve. He was also a major league baseball history buff, but the joy of his life was his grandchildren: Aoife, Frances Marigold, Leila, Virginia, Audrey (aka Duckie), Johnjohn, Gabriel, Celia and Rowena.
Joe was in robust physical health due to his tireless hard work, attention to nutrition and faith in God. It was a shock that he left us so suddenly, but a blessing that he didn’t suffer. He was never afraid of death or what was to come, having unshakeable confidence in his creator and savior.
Joe Murphy was a steadfast oak, a shining beacon of God’s love and a friend to all.
A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 at Anderson’s Tribute Center. Joe’s memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on, Saturday, Feb. 14 at Shepherd of the Valley, 1631 Eighth St., Hood River. He will be laid to rest in a private committal at Pine Grove Cemetery.
The family wishes to thank the Odell, Oregon, EMTs for their rapid response and the Hood River Sheriff 911 Operations for their kind assistance. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.
Columbia Gorge News, Feb. 4, 2026
To plant a tree in memory of Joseph Murphy as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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