Thomas MurphyFeb 23, 1927 - Jan 30, 2014Thomas Lester Murphy"The Ol' Gent" 86Thomas Lester Murphy passed away on Thursday, Jan 30th, 2014, at home, surrounded by family; just three weeks shy of his 87th birthday.He was born on Feb 23, 1927, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Thomas William Murphy (a.k.a. Brooks) and Marguerite Janene Morgan. He was the oldest of three children, sister, Rose Marie and brother, Robert M. His parents divorced in the early 1930's and the three children were raised by their aunt and uncle, who owned the Maple Leaf Dairy in Pocatello.Immediately upon graduation from Pocatello High School, Tom enlisted in the Navy and served in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in July, 1946, and returned to Pocatello, and began an apprenticeship with Union Pacific Railroad to become a journeyman machinist. He met his bride-to-be, Nona Maye French, in the recovery room at Bannock Hospital where he was recuperating from appendicitis and she was a newly graduated registered nurse. They were married in August, 1948, and had four children: Steven, Carol (died shortly after birth), Linda, and Michael.With the opening of the Atomic Energy Commission Nuclear Reactor Testing Station in the early 50's, Tom moved his family to Idaho Falls and took a job as a machinist for General Electric. He helped to build two of the first experimental breeder reactors (EBR-I) which pioneered the advent of nuclear energy. After working as a machinist, he realized his real ambition was to design rather than fabricate, and he spent the remainder of his career in study and schooling to further his qualifications as a Design Mechanical Engineer. In his later career, he worked for EG&G Services and was the Project supervisor for the Payload Preparation Room (PPR) design for the US Air Force Shuttle Launch program at Vandenberg Air Force base. He retired in 1985. Tom was an active outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing and camping, and spent countless days around Island and Yellowstone Parks. Some of his fondest memories included elk hunting above Shoup with his lifelong friends, Bud, Rowdy, Stanley, and son Steve.He was a social guy, and he and Nona met friends, Ed, Virginia, and Drexler, among others, for Monday morning breakfasts at Smitty's Pancake House in Idaho Falls. He had a tradition of Sunday morning coffee with his buddies which extended for almost 50 years.As a youth, The Ol' Gent had a passion for motorcycles. He was one of the early "club" members in Pocatello after the Navy and rode a Harley right up to starting his family. While raising his kids, he gave up riding, but started again soon after retirement. He owned a number of motorcycles, including Hondas and Yamahas, but his pride and joy was the Harley Softail he bought for his 80th birthday. He said it reminded him of the one he rode "back in the day!"He strived to be his very best and excelled in many things. He was a champion bowler and an Idaho State and US National Champion Marksman in small caliber rifle competition. He started golf after retiring and became a respectable golfer, even making his own clubs. He had a passion for reading and for poetry, and the verse from Kipling's "If"' says it best: "If you can fill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds worth of distance run...."He lived a full life almost to the very end. With failing health for both he and Nona, they moved to Coeur d'Alene in September, 2012, to live with Linda and Ralph. He set an example to all his family, especially in his marriage to his "Lil' Flower" for almost 66 years. He loved his wife and his family. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Nona, in Coeur d'Alene; son Steven (Nancy) Murphy, in Burley, children Jeremy (Jamie) Murphy in Houston, Josh (Mendi) Murphy, Grady and Saylor in Meridian, and Derek (Mary) Murphy in Burley; daughter, Linda (Ralph) Christensen, and children Tony (Lisa) Christensen and Blake, and Lisa (Rob) Huboff and Elsa, all in Coeur d'Alene; and son, Michael (Jill) Murphy, of Coeur d'Alene, and children, Jennifer (Dan) Stone, Jordyn, Jared, Bryce and Brooklyn, in Coeur d'Alene, James (Kathryn) Murphy, Makenna and Brooks, of Salt Lake City, Erin (Mike) Grimmett , Zoe, Sophie, Ellie, and Brodie, and Mollie (Ryan) Wing and Harper, all of Coeur d'Alene.He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Carol, and sister, Rose Marie Evans and by many close friends and buddies. His family extends appreciation to the staff of Smitty's, who welcomed his Monday morning breakfast bunch for so many years, as well as to the staff at the Owl Café, in Hayden, Id. In addition, a special thanks to Steve Ketola, whom he considered another son, and the Auburn Crest Hospice (Mary Jean and the rest of the staff) and ResCare Home Services (Erika and the others) for their kindness and compassionate service these past months.No memorial services will be held. A private family memorial is planned for the future. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel is entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Tom's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com .