Reese Murphy

Watch the live-stream of the funeral HERE.   

Reese Murphy, age 83, of Roosevelt, passed away December 29, 2022, at his home.
    He was born August 11, 1939, in Bennett, Utah, to LeRoy and Evah Clayburn Murphy.  He served in the US Army and was stationed at Ft Baker under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco before being transferred to Ft. Poke Louisiana  during the Cuban Missile crisis. He also served in the Army Corps of Engineers. 
    Reese married Elaine Mathews on August 20, 1971, in Ioka, Utah.  They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on April 26, 1974.
    Reese apprenticed as a brick mason just after he returned from the military, and this became his life-long work.  He did the masonry work on many of the homes throughout the Uintah Basin and beyond.  He owned and operated Reese Murphy Masonry for over 20 years.  He then moved to Leeds, Utah, where he eventually worked his way up to Yard Foreman at Pacific Supply.  He drove truck, hauling building supplies into the St. George store from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Nevada for over 5 years.  While there, he worked many side jobs as a handyman.  In 2017 he had a stroke which slowed him down, and after 30 years in Leeds, the family moved back to the Basin in 2021.  
    Reese was an avid hunter and fisherman in the High Uintahs.  He enjoyed riding horses and had taken a saddle-making class, which gave him another hobby: he made saddles for many of his family.  He always helped out friends and family with anything they needed.  He was selfless, hardworking, tender-hearted, and his favorite thing in the whole world was being a grandpa – especially his breakfasts with the grandkids at McDonald’s.
    He was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings.  
    Reese is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elaine, of Roosevelt; children, Ted Hunting, Vernal; McCoy Murphy, Evah (David) Taylor, both of Roosevelt; 15 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren; brothers, Earl Murphy, Glen (Lora) Murphy, both of Roosevelt; and numerous nieces and nephews.  
    Reese was preceded in death by a daughter, Terri Hergett; his parents; brothers, Merlan & Ron; and an infant sister and brother.
    Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Roosevelt Central Park Ward Chapel, 32 South State Street.  A viewing will be held that morning from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.
    Burial in the Roosevelt Memorial Park with military honors presented