Dad: EULOGIES

June 2nd 2011 the day all of our lives changed forever. Our Dad was called to heaven by God. Dad had a tough life,but to his kids you would never know it. Christmas and birthdays were always filled with love and presents. He always brought a smile to our faces and always had the right words to guide us with.
I will always remember a saying he told me "You always hear the grass is greener on the other side,
well to him that means you are not watering your side enough."Dad always watered his side enough. I will always remember buying my 1st car from Dad at age 15. I worked part time at 50cents an hour and paid
$ 200.00 for the car. I complained that Paul was making $ 2.50 an hour.

Dad said no problem you want $ 2.50 an hour you got it BUT the car is now $ 1000.00. Do the math it is the same and Dad figured it out in seconds. I did get to trade my Schwinn bike in for $ 25.00 and Dad sold it to Karen for $250.00. Another Great memory is when we were at Reseda Lake and seen a goose while we were fishing for Big Ben (a large fish in this small pond). Well we were bored with fishing and started chasing the geese around the quiet lake. We went up to Dad and asked if we could take one home. Dad saying if we could catch one we could take it home. Never imaging we would catch one, Paul, myself, Karen, Pete, Dan & Tim cornered one and Paul grabbed it by the neck. next thing you know we are driving home with Dad with a screaming goose in the car.

Well I could go on for months with great memories, But the great memory is that Dad and Mom keep this family together through good times and bad times through sickness and health just like they promised God when they got married. This is not the end for Dad He will live through all of us through our memories and what he has taught us - honesty, integrity,and great morals. As we sat with Dad on his last hours on earth I told him it is not good bye but see you later until we meet again in heaven and asked him if there is any way he could come back and be my Guardian Angel. I also asked if he could bring me the lottery numbers.
God Bless you Dad & Thank You for everything you done for us. You will be truly missed and will hold a spot in my heart forever, Love you Dad.

Submitted by James Murphy

Submitted by Jimmy Murphy

Paul was a great husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather. and a friend.
I do not even know where to begin because we have all shared wonderful memories with him.
I do not know any stronger man than my Pappy. He went thru so many battles but he never gave up
and kept on fighting and pulling thru. He hung on to his life as long as he could and now he is in a better place.

As we know us Murphy's are very competitive, this indeed we did get from my Pappy.
I remember when I was young when we went to visit at their mobile home park in Palmdale, if the Kings were playing he would be so into the game where if you asked him a question he did not respond until a commercial or intermission. He loved the Los Angeles Kings and every since then that has been my favorite team and I watch all their games. So my dad Jim, if you ask me a question and I do not respond you know where I got it from.
My pappy would love to place bets, it could of been a game of baseball to as simple as a game of phase 10. He always made the games more fun and interesting.

My Pappy was a very people person and he would never shy away from anything. For example, I was told the story on how he bought a plant from a store. My Pappy watered it and it ended up dying 2 weeks later.
Can we guess what he did? For those of you who said return it you are correct. Just imagine taking a dead plant into a store to return or get another one. Or what about the story when he bought hamburger meat, he went home had it cooked, not too sure if he or Nana cooked it, but that's besides the point. After it was all done cooking, he took a bite and said that it was bad. Can we guess what he did again? Yup my Pappy sure did go back to the store with his cooked meat and returned it. The clerk didn't want to accept it since it was already cooked,
o Pappy said you taste it then and let me know what you think. Now I am not too sure if I ever would do that but that is why my Pappy was such an amazing person. He always stood up for what he believed was right.

This is very hard on me just like I know it is for all of you out there as well, but I know my Pappy wants us to be happy and live our lives to the fullest. I truly believe that he is our guardian angel now and will always be looking over us. We all have wonderful memories with him that we will cherish and never forget. Thank you Pappy for teaching, showing, listening, guiding, and most of all for being you. I will miss you so much and I love you Pappy and always will. You will be in my heart forever. God Bless you Pappy!

Submitted by Molly Caitlin Cannon

His Influence On Me

My grandfather taught me more than anyone has my entire life. The example he set as a recovering alcoholic and a man who had debilitating OCD makes me believe every day that I can overcome these obstacles. I am not ashamed to say it, I am proud to say it.

I am proud because I have a hero in my heart. I have a grandfather who loved me, who still loves me,
who knows me better than anyone did, because of this I heard his last words in my head, when I was about to fall. I heard him say as clear as day, Just don't drink tonight Molly, keep going back to AA.
It was what saved me. He saved me in so many ways. I am thankful.

I was blessed to get to have him in my life. Every chip I get I will say, Thank you Pappy. thumbs up! I love you, I miss you and I always will, but I know you were waiting for me to say goodbye.
I know you were waiting for me to leave the room. Remember what I told you?
What I whispered in your ear and no one else heard? Well, I promise. From this day until the day I die, I promise.

We were all blessed and fortunate to have a Father that loved us all as much as Dad did.

Best known as a loving Father. I often thought what made him such a loving Father? Well so many times someones past dictates their future.

Dad came from a dysfunctional family and I do believe that was the number one driving force that made him such a good father. Of course not without challenges, he forged thru all of his issues and became just that. Married for over 55 years and a proud member of AA for over 40 years, he once told me that if he could break the cycle of alcoholism in his family with his kids that would be his proudest achievement. I do believe he succeeded.

He was the most un-selfish person I have ever known. Not interested in driving new cars owning boats and RV's or taking worldwide luxury trips, no, the only thing he wanted was for his children to be happy and healthy.

Growing up I think that was very evident at Christmas time when the pile of gifts for his children was almost as tall as the tree itself. Almost every year, Dad and Mom would go into debt and sometimes taking the whole year to payoff last years toys only to start the whole process again.

Dad taught all of his kids to work hard and to also play hard, and we did a lot of that together. Whether fishing, camping racing go-karts or flying model airplanes, we did a lot of it.

Self-employed for most of his working life, as a worker, no one could come close. Even when I was in my prime, 17-18 yrs old, I would have a hard time keeping up with his pace. The work ethic he instilled in all of his children is second to none. I started working with Dad in 1968 up until 2004, that's 36 years. There were a few years in there where I was off somewhere else, however, we discussed something business related almost everyday. The business I own today is a direct result of much of Dad's efforts.

I often thought if I could become half the Father he was, I would be content.

A very tough but kind man (and also an excellent violinist), Dad worked hard at overcoming his health issues of the last twenty five years. Surviving many things that would have killed most, he fought to the very end with only his family's best interest in mind.

Survived by his wife and all of his children, he succeeded at all of his goals, to be the best father and husband he could be, to break his family's chain of alcoholism and to have raised happy and healthy children. His life was a great success and he will be dearly missed until we are re-united with our beloved Father.