Frederick Parker Murphy

1935 - 2021

Frederick Parker Murphy

Frederick Parker Murphy, born January 25th, 1935, passed away peacefully November 26th 2019 in Phoenix Arizona. Fred grew up in Detroit Michigan and graduated from Redford High School in 1953. A born car salesman, Fred started selling cars at age 14. He worked at several local Detroit car dealerships in his early years, and began selling cars at Merollis Chevrolet in Eastpointe, MI. in the early 60's, eventually working his way up to General Manager. In 1975, at the age of 40, he was able to purchase his first car dealership in downtown Trenton, Michigan, renaming it Murphy Chevrolet. Soon after, he built a sprawling Chevrolet dealership on Allen Road. He later operated several other dealerships including Avon Lincoln-Mercury in Rochester Hills, and Park Buick Pontiac GMC in Richmond.

Fred met his late wife, Joyce Mendenhall, at Redford High School, from which they both graduated in 1953. Married in 1958, they raised their three children, Melinda, Patrick, and Gregory, in Grosse Pointe Woods. Fred married his second wife Gloria Petro in 1980.

Fred was an avid boater, owning many over the years. He enjoyed his time on the water at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Lake St. Clair Metropark, aka Metrobeach, and various other marinas along Lake St. Clair.

Fred retired from the auto industry in 1997 and moved to Arizona in 2015 to be near to his daughter, and get out of the Michigan cold.

He is survived by Gloria Petro Demoura (second wife) his daughter Melinda Murphy(Dorian Kreiling 2017), Patrick Murphy (Cheri), their children Parker, Catlin, Shane, and Cooper; and his son Gregory Murphy (Amy) and their children McKenna and Brody.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021, 1:00pm at Memorial Park, Royal Oak. (Woodward at 13 Mile)

For those wishing to attend via Zoom video conference, please contact a family member.

Fred's ashes will be interred at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak, Michigan.