Ivan Dwane Murphy

Funeral Services for Ivan Dwane Murphy age 92 of Natchitoches will be held on Thursday, May 23 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. Visitation will start at 10:00 and funeral service time will be at 1:00. Burial will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by father, Earnest A. Murphy, his mother, Martha Miller Murphy, his son, Mark Murphy, stepson, Kerry Friedman, brothers, Ira, E.A.,D.K. and sister, Marti Eades.

Dwane was a talented athlete at Natchitoches High School. He signed to play football at LSU but was convinced by local Natchitoches businessmen to return to Northwestern State. He played football and ran track at NSU for 2 years and then enlisted in the Navy during the Korean conflict.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, he was employed by Fireside Life Insurance Company where he rose from insurance salesman to Vice President of the company. His relationship with Fireside was such that they assisted him in entering the funeral industry in 1969 under his company name, Mursimco, which he and his family operated for over 50 years.

An avid hunter and golfer, he spent his later years hunting in Colorado with his wife, Cecile, and, when in town, he could be found on the golf course at the Natchitoches Country Club.

Dwane was the epitome of someone who “never met a stranger.”  His gregarious and welcoming personality endeared him to all who met him and knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Cecile Morris Murphy, his daughter, Marti Murphy, sons, Michael and Tim Murphy, stepson, Greg Friedman, stepdaughter, Elizabeth Edwards and his brothers, Mike and Steve Murphy.