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Nicholas Lee Murphy
1942 - 2025
BORN
1942
DIED
2025
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Nicholas Murphy Obituary
1942 ~ 2025
Nicholas Lee Murphy passed away peacefully in Moab, UT on August 25, 2025, at the age of 82.
Nick was born in Moab, UT on November 11, 1942 to Nicholas Joseph Murphy and Thelma Louise Garlett.
He attended Grand Country High School and graduated in 1960. Nick served 2 years in the Army in Vietnam where he a patrol sergeant in a deep reconnaissance platoon and weapons tester resulting in a top security clearance. Later he attended the College of Eastern Utah in Price, Utah.
Nick married the love of his life, Patricia Gayle Jacobs on Feb 12, 1968, and they lived in Moab for the rest of his life.
He then became an underground miner that lasted until the late 1980s and then went to work for his wife, Patti, helping her run Nifty Fashions in Moab, UT until it's closing in 2014 when they both then retired.
Nick enjoyed hunting, fishing, and driving up to his beloved La Sal Mountains each day to make sure all was well and see how many animals he could count. He especially loved his family.
Nick is survived by his sister Zola (Gary) Sloop of Las Vegas, NV and his brother Jay (Karen) Murphy of Monroe, NC; wife, Patricia Murphy of Moab, UT; his children Nicholas Lee (Tessie) Murphy of Smithfield, UT; Holly Ann (Edward) Murphy of Bowie, MD; and Mallory Lynn (Lee) McLackland of Moab, UT. He also survived with 15 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren with number 19 and 20 on the way. He was preceded in death by his mom Thelma, his dad Nick Sr., grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A viewing will be held at the Spanish Valley Mortuary 386 N 100 W in Moab on Friday, September 5 between 6-8pm. The funeral will be held at St. Pius Catholic Church, 122 W 400 N, Moab, UT on Saturday September 6, 2025, at 10am. Interment will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Valley.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at Spanish Valley Mortuary or SVMC.us.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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