Stephen Scott "Steve" Murphy

Ellsworth, Maine

Stephen Scott Murphy, 62, passed away on December 17, 2025, at his home in Ellsworth following a brief illness.

He was born on January 28, 1963, in Bar Harbor, the son of Lawrence "Peenie" E. and Belva D. (Crockett)Murphy. He attended local schools and was an original participant in the MDI Sheltered Workshop, later transitioning to Downeast Horizons programs. Steve lived for more than 30 years at the Downeast Horizons Foster Street home for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Steve worked for many years at McDonald's in Ellsworth, where he warmly greeted locals and relatives alike. He proudly told everyone he was "making big bucks." A very compassionate person, Steve loved babies, kids, and had a special place in his heart for cats. He was a collector of family photos, and he liked to reminisce about the past and share about his travel experiences including trips to Florida and Cruises.

Steve loved to dance and especially enjoyed imitating Michael Jackson's moves on the dance floor. He was a huge fan of professional wrestling and closely followed Hulk Hogan's career. As a young boy, Steve was enthralled with classic horror movies-Frankenstein, Dracula, and zombies of all kinds. He especially enjoyed dining out at Governor's, where his favorites were burgers and their "8-pound cake" (chocolate peanut butter), followed by a stroll through Walmart to walk off the pounds. A man of few words, "Yeah, that'll work," was his usual response.

He is survived by his sister, Tina Barrett, and husband, Monty, of The Villages, Florida; and sister, Sally Auclair, and husband, Armand, of Brewer: Uncle Steve also leaves behind four nieces and nephews: Heather Auclair Welch and husband, Nate, of Plymouth, MA; Erik Hamilton of Summerville, SC; David Hamilton of Scarborough; and Melanie Knarr and husband, Jim, of Scottsdale, AZ. Steve was a proud great-uncle to Nick and Grace Knarr of Scottsdale, AZ. He was predeceased by his parents.

Steve also leaves behind his housemates at Foster Street - MaryEllen, Nancy, and Steve L. The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all the Downeast Horizons staff who supported Steve over the years.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date to honor Steve's life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve's memory to the Downeast Horizons Foundation, 77 Union St., Ellsworth, ME 04605, or to a local animal shelter.

Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com