Ted Duane Murphy

Ted Duane Murphy, 98, of Kansas City, MO departed this life peacefully on February 12th, 2025 at Brookdale Wornall Place. Ted was born on May 31, 1926 in Kingsley, IA to Gerald and Fern Murphy. Ted was raised and spent his youth growing up on farms in Iowa and Missouri. In 1943 he joined the Navy to proudly serve his country during the final two years of World War II. During his time in the Navy, he served on a Navy Destroyer ship and traveled the world seeing not only Hawaii and Japan, but traveled to Okinawa, Guam, New Zealand, Fiji Island, even passing through the Panama Canal. After the war he lived in Japan for 18 months before returning to San Diego to be honorably discharged in 1947. His time in the Navy was something he highly revered and always loved to talk about and tell stories.

After being discharged, he returned home to Chillicothe, MO where he attended business school. While attending school he met the love of his life, Martha Mae Gerke. They married in 1950 and were married for 71 years, raising a family of five. Ted was a loving, caring, and kind man who truly cherished his family. One of his biggest joys was traveling and he would take his entire family on long vacations every summer when his children were young. In retirement he would still travel with his wife Mae, driving cross country to visit their children and grandchildren, driving to Navy reunions in various places and trips to other destinations they wanted to see. When they weren’t traveling he found great joy tending to his yard and many gardens alongside his wife.

Ted was also very devoted to his Catholic faith donating his time frequently to help the church when needed. Ted was preceded in death by his wife Mae Murphy, sister Peggy Bohnenkamp, and daughter-in-law Fran Niemeyer-Murphy. Survivors include five children, Pat Murphy, Pam Oberschelp (Jeff), Steve Murphy (Melissa), Vicki Murphy and Mike Murphy; his sister Beverly Miller; six grandchildren, Joe, Annabel, Kristen, Kelly, Sean, and Conner; and two great granddaughters, Evelyn and Charli.

Visitation will take place at 10am on February 21st, 2025 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1800 MO-150, Lee’s Summit, MO.  A Naval Honor Tribute will be at 10:50am, followed by a funeral mass at 11am, and a luncheon at the church after mass. Internment will be after the luncheon at Floral Hills East Memorial Gardens on East US 50 Highway in Lee’s Summit.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church.