Gerald Murphy

Gerald Edmund Murphy, 81, of Woodinville, Washington, passed away on November 28, 2025, after a long and brave battle with chronic lung disease. Born on November 11, 1944, in Lynn, Massachusetts, Jerry was the son of the late James and Irene (Blaisdell) Murphy and the cherished younger brother of James, Sally, Maureen, Diane, and Art. Growing up as the youngest in a lively household shaped his humor, resilience, and the deep loyalty that defined his character.

Jerry's early years in Massachusetts were filled with the closeness of a big family and the energy that comes from being both loved and teased as the youngest. In his teens, he became the goalie for the Lynnfield ice hockey team, embracing the responsibility and pressure of the position with confidence and grit. Though he loved the game of hockey, that devotion always came second to his loyalty to the Seattle Seahawks, who held a special place in his heart from the moment he made Washington his home.

At seventeen, Jerry graduated high school early and enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning a five-year period of service from 1962 to 1967. With his father's signature allowing him to join early, Jerry trained in San Antonio and Amarillo before being assigned to the United Kingdom as a Supply Technician. Through dedication and discipline, he rose to the rank of Airman First Class (A1C), E-4. During his service, he earned the National Defense Service Medal, a recognition of his honorable commitment during a pivotal era in American military history.

His assignment to McChord Air Force Base in Washington set the stage for the greatest chapter of his life. There he met Karen, whose kindness, strength, and spirit matched his own. Their bond deepened during the time she traveled abroad, sustained by letters written with sincerity and hope. When she returned home, Jerry welcomed her with a ring. Their marriage became the foundation of a family filled with devotion, laughter, and unwavering support.

After his military service, Jerry began his civilian career, leveraging his charismatic personality into a knack for relationship building and sales. He worked with J&K Supply, Boeing, Combined Insurance, and Bell Electronics, and served as President of Zephyr Electronics before founding his own firm, Murphy Electronics, in 1980. Built on the values of honest relationships and hard work, Jerry ran the firm for nearly 25 years with a wonderful group of employees whom he valued and respected.

As a father, Jerry was deeply involved in every part of his children's lives. He coached youth soccer for all four of his children, spending countless hours on muddy fields teaching teamwork, sportsmanship, and confidence. Off the field, Jerry was involved at school: offering homework support for last-minute projects and serving as the first male President of the John Muir Elementary PTA. For his boys, he also served as an Indian Guide leader, creating memories around campfires, community events, and outdoor adventures that became defining moments of their childhood. These seasons of coaching, guiding, and showing up year after year reflected his belief that the greatest gift a parent can offer is time.

Faith was a central pillar of Jerry's life. He and Karen raised their children in a strong Catholic home. Together they aspired to live and teach the values of service, kindness, humility, and gratitude. Sunday mornings, sacraments, parish life, and prayer were woven directly into the rhythm of family life, grounding each of his children in a tradition that shaped their understanding of love and responsibility.

Jerry was immensely proud of his family. He is survived by his wife, Karen; his children and their spouses - Carrie and Greg Palandrani (Vancouver, WA), Theresa and Keith Harrington (Kirkland, WA), Gerald Casey Murphy (Bentonville, AR), and James and Tracy Murphy (Denver, CO) - each of whom he loved, encouraged, and celebrated; his grandchildren Grace, Abby, Frankie, Ella, Emma, Ben, Casey, Tess, Lily, and Connor, all of whom brought him immense joy; and his siblings Sally and James Moynihan (Lowell, MA), Maureen Ledrich (Casselberry, FL), Arthur and Lynn Murphy (Ludington, MI); his sister-in-law JoAnn Murphy (Fort Worth, TX); as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his siblings James Murphy and Diane Murphy, and his nephews Jim Moynihan and John Murphy.

Jerry will be remembered for his humor, generosity, steady presence, and the warmth he extended to everyone around him. He had a gift for spinning a good tale, always adding just a bit of blarney as any good Irishman would. He will also be remembered for something uniquely his: a lifelong ability to power through each day fueled solely by black coffee, a quirk that became part of the family lore, admired, teased, and lovingly recalled.

His life was rich in love and character, and he made an impact on every person fortunate enough to know him. His legacy lives on in his family and in the countless moments of kindness, humor, strength, and guidance he shared throughout his life.

Funeral Services

Funeral Services will be held on December 19, 2025, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Kirkland. Viewing will begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral mass at 9:00 a.m. Interment will take place at 12:30 p.m. at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery in Shoreline, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UWMC Northwest Fund for Greatest Need, in gratitude to the amazing team of health care professionals who cared for Jerry in the last year of his life.