MILLINOCKET and LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. – Anthony C. Murphy, 66, died Jan. 6, 2009, having found peace with himself, his family and friends, and the Lord after a courageous battle with cancer. Tony was born Sept. 6, 1942, in Houlton, the oldest child of Fred and Marguerite (Grava) Murphy. He attended Houlton schools, graduating from Houlton High School in 1961. He then served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, Armored Division in Thailand until 1964, engendering a lifelong great concern for our military personnel. He followed each U.S. military action closely and often wore camouflage clothing to show his support. He settled in Millinocket after his military service and worked in the steam plant at Great Northern Paper Co., until his retirement in 1999, when he and Toni moved to Lehigh Acres, Fla., returning to summer at the “Redneck Riviera” on Ambejejus Lake. Tony loved animals and nature; was an avid gardener and landscape artist; enjoyed fishing, hiking, skydiving and boating with family and friends at the lake. He was a man of few words, unless he was telling a joke; however, his generosity and kindness to family, friends and animals spoke volumes about his character. He was a member of Moose Lodge No. 2266, VFW Post No. 4174 of Lehigh Acres, Fla., and Elks Lodge and American Legion Post No. 0080 of Millinocket. Anthony is survived by his devoted wife, Toni Jean (Michaud) Murphy of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; his loving son and daughter-in-law, Jon L. and Beth Murphy of Rehoboth, Mass.; a brother, Lawrence Murphy of Davie, Fla.; sister, Linda Reed of Hartford, Conn.; father-in-law, Richard Michaud of Millinocket; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and too many friends in Maine and Florida to mention individually. He was predeceased by his parents; and mother-in-law, Jean (Mascetta) Michaud. A funeral Mass was held 11 a.m. Jan. 7 at St. Raphael’s, Lehigh Acres, Fla. A memorial service will be held in early July in Millinocket. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Hope Hospice House, 25 Homestead Road N., Lehigh Acres, FL 33936. On the donation checks, please write for Hospice House to be built in Lehigh Acres, FL 33936.
ANTHONY C. MURPHY
