Gary James Murphy

Gary James Murphy passed away at North Colorado Medical Center after a month-long battle with COVID-19 on February 3, 2021 at the age of 67.

Gary was born to Agnes and James L. Murphy on November 21, 1953 in Torrington, WY. He spent his childhood years living in Guernsey, WY. He moved to Torrington, WY when he entered high school and graduated from Torrington High School in 1972.

After high school, he and his parents moved to Mesa, AZ to be closer to his older siblings and allow him to attend college at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. In August 1974, he married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Deborah L. Ray, in Torrington, WY. During those lean years, he and Deborah completed their undergraduate degrees from the University of Arizona in 1976 – an accomplishment that they were both proud of. As an undergraduate, Gary was in the ROTC program and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army the same day he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He received a deferment for Active Duty until he completed his Doctorate of Pharmacy from U of A in May, 1979 while working as a student/graduate intern at Revco Drug in Tucson.

From July 1979 to July 1981, he served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Out-Patient Pharmacy at Reynolds Army Hospital in Fort Sill, OK. During this time, he was briefly reassigned as the Officer-in-Charge of the 47th Field Hospital during the Cuban Refugee Program at Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith, AR. After his discharge, he was a member of the US Army Reserves and was recalled to Active Duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in September 1990 where he served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Outpatient Pharmacy at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, CO until April 1991. Major Murphy was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army in February 1996. During his years of service, he earned a National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and two Army Commendation Medals.

Gary’s Pharmacy career spanned 34 years, most of those years as the Pharmacy Manager at Kmart in Greeley, CO. In 1991, after returning from his redeployment during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, he was promoted to Pharmacy District Manager for Kmart Corporation in New Hope, MN where he managed the operations of up to forty-two pharmacies in MN and SD.

In 1997, Gary moved his family back to Greeley, CO in order to be closer to family. He worked for Kmart another six years before transferring to Eckerd Drug in Evans, CO until its closing. In June 2004, he became the Pharmacy Manager at Walgreens in Greeley, CO through July 2015. He retired in January 2016.

Gary is survived by his wife, Deborah and his children and their spouses: Janelle and David Todd and Tyler and Mary Murphy, three grandchildren, Brett Todd, Noah Todd and Zoe Murphy, brothers Patrick Murphy and Chuck Murphy and wife Sue, brother-in-law, James Putman and brother and sister-in-law Roger and Norma Ray, as well as, several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Agnes and James Murphy, sister Mary Jo Putman, infant brother Michael George Murphy, sister-in-law Susan Murphy and father and mother-in-law, Delbert and Louise Ray.

Gary was particularly devoted to his grandchildren who gave him great joy. He met his new granddaughter, Zoe, in October 2020 and was able to celebrate her first Christmas with her. He was so looking forward to watching her grow. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with the family, gardening, and coin collecting, volunteering for Weld Food Bank, and most recently serving as a volunteer driver for the Disabled American Veterans.

Gary’s family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 12 at Adamson Life Celebration home with military honors at 5:00 p.m. Cremation will follow. Memorial gifts may be made to “Weld Food Bank” or “Disabled American Veterans” in care of Adamson, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Friends may leave condolences at AdamsonCares.com.

Please do your part to protect others from this horrible disease. Follow CDC guidelines, wear a mask, social distance, avoid large gatherings and get a COVID-19 vaccination when you are able.