Thomas M. Murphy

POTTSVILLE - Thomas M. Murphy, 67,Pottsville, formerly a long term resident of Lancaster, died Tuesday morning at the Schuylkill Medical Center South Jackson St., Pottsville. Born in Pottsville on November 6, 1942, he was the son of the late Thomas A. and Helen T. (Lonergan) Murphy. Thomas was raised in Port Carbon and graduated in 1960 from Nativity BVM High School. In 1963 he graduated from Thaddeus Stevens School of Technology, in Lancaster. While at Nativity and Thaddeus Stevens he excelled at football. Thomas was a member of the Army National Guard. He also was a member of the Lancaster Ski Club, St. Ann's Church, in Lancaster, The Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Church of Saint Patrick, Pottsville. He was the former owner of Altro Acoustical, in Lancaster. Prior to that he was employed for many years by Standard Acoustical Products, Inc., in Lancaster, and Ted Smith Inc., in Reading. Most recently, he was worked for the Carpenters Local Union #214, in Reading, from which he retired. Thomas was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, who will be greatly missed. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing , hunting, canoeing, and gardening. He also found great enjoyment in cooking and traveling. One of his favorite hobbies was carving ducks, which are fondly cherished by his family and friends. On May 17, 1999, he married the former Nancy Wolfe Julian, who survives. In addition to his parents, Thomas was preceded in death by: his 2nd wife Jean Brown Murphy; a sister, Margaret Swenda. Surviving in addition to his wife are: two daughters, Kristin and her husband Scot DePue, of Wyomissing, and Kerriann and her husband Dean Robbins, of Davidsonville, MD; his former wife Mary Jo Murphy, of Lancaster; two step-daughters, Susan and her husband David Fortunato, of Kennett Square and Jennifer and her husband John Cooper of Auburn; two grandsons, Chase and Chet DePue and granddaughter, Brooke Robbins; two step granddaughters, Sierra and Madison Fortunato; two step grandsons, Brandon and Anthony Cooper; two sisters, Kathleen Reilly, of Shreveport, LA and Marianne McCarthy, of Pottsville; three nieces and two nephews. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at 10:00 AM at the Church of Saint Patrick, 4th & Mahantongo St., Pottsville. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 9AM until time of Mass. Interment will be at a later date in Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville. The Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, Inc. 6th & W. Market St., Pottsville, is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 101 N. Center St., Pottsville, PA 17901.