Earl Murphy was known for many things in the Madison community most notably a mentor and supervisor for the city after serving almost twenty years on the council. He was also known by almost everyone and always enjoyed sharing stories with those he met and no matter what the situation, you could always count on him to tell it like it was. After months of declining health and multiple health scares, Earl passed away with family by his side on December 14th.
Makes you wonder if his wife of 65 years, Patsy or the Murphy children Janell, Jola and Calvin ever worried if they would be the topic in that week’s column when opening up The Madison News each week. While few of the Murphy descendants avoided being in the spotlight in at least one of Earl’s stories, they were always lighthearted and in good fun. The “Tell It Like It Is” columns got fewer and further between as Earl’s health was declining.
The production team never bothered him for stories as they knew his situation, but they always left room for a story just in case he could muster up the strength to tell it like it was one final time. In the October 5 th edition of The Madison News, Earl shed some light on his health scares. He explained how in March of this year he discovered a lump on his neck that would end up being cancer in his lymph gland.
He immediately started immunotherapy and before he knew it the lump was gone and he was feeling pretty good. Fast forward to the end of August when he would have surger.
