Richard J. Murphy

Richard J. Murphy, 87, of Davenport, died Sunday, January 18, 2026, at St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, IL.

Graveside services will be held at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport, IA, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting with the arrangements.

Murphy was born December 12, 1938, in Davenport, the son of Richard G. Murphy and Catherine M. (Blackburn) Murphy. He was preceded in death by his brother, James T. Murphy, and sister, Mary (Murphy) Benge.

Murphy served in the United States Navy from 1961 until he was honorably discharged in 1966. After leaving the Navy, Murphy briefly worked at aerospace defense supplier Cobham Mission Systems in Davenport, however, Murphy always had a suitcase packed and spent some time living in Texas and Oregon. While in Oregon, he met his beloved, Anne Hicks, at the public library where she was a librarian. Anne and Murphy eventually returned to Davenport, to take care of his mother. Anne preceded him in death around 2001.

The Davenport apartment building where Murphy lived with his mother is where he met the family who started as neighbors but would become his dear friends and housemates in his later years, Hubert Evans, Mai Linh Dao, and Robin Evans. Murphy considered these friends to be his family, and he will always be a part of their family.

Murphy was an avid reader and had a boundless passion for politics, current events, and history. The books and magazines he collected over the years comprise an impressive picture of current and historical events, a library that he worked hard to create and was always proud of.

Above all else, Murphy was a kind person and a great friend. He will be very missed by his loved ones.