Matthew J. Murphy

Matthew J Murphy, 53, of Ronan, Montana, passed away November 22, 2021. He was born May 3, 1968 son of James and Paula Aucter Murphy in Rutland, New York. Matthew graduated high school in 1987 from Beaver River Central School in Beaver River, NY. He earned his CDL certification from Great Basin College in Elko, NV in 2001. His love of driving started early and continued throughout his life. His favorite vehicle to own and operate was a 1975 Pontiac Firebird, of which there were many stories of police chases that miraculously ended with him narrowly escaping and driving in reverse up the highway at speeds exceeding the speed limit. He was married to his wife, Tina M Murphy, on December 30, 1988 and they cherished 32 years of marriage together.

A devoted friend, son, brother, husband, father, uncle and grandfather, Matthew was a diligent and hard working man throughout his life. His first employment was working on local dairy farms in Croghan, NY. Then he was a forklift operator at Abenaki Timber Corp in New Hampshire. He then went onto work for MPB Corporation in Lebanon, NH operating a CNC lathe. He worked as a forklift operator at C&S Wholesale Grocers in Vermont and in Maryland, often working in subzero temperatures in the freezer warehouse. After moving to Nevada, he went into professional long haul trucking. His professional trucking career included training student drivers, the accomplishment of driving 4 million safe miles, having his driving record used as an ideal example during company training, and helping those that he came into contact with: other drivers, waitstaff, and animals. Matthew always had a soft spot for cats and dogs and would feed strays left at truck stops.

Surviving family includes his wife Tina and daughters Leigh and Maisie of the family home, son and daughter-in- law Andrew and Angelina, of Polson, and son Alexander also of Polson. He was also a proud grandpa of Tristan Matthew that he lovingly nicknamed Cookie Monster. Matthew is also survived by his mom, Paula Biasone, brothers Christian (Aimee) and Samuel (Ana), sister Danielle (Al), and brother Joseph as well as many aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his loving family by marriage: especially his father and mother in law Dale and Gerri Terrillion, who treated him like a son.

Matthew is also survived by the children of his heart: Keanna and Shayleigh Proulx, Noah Hoffman, Shane Leineke and Heidi Sherman. He also held a special place in his heart for his friends: Tony, Tim, Jason, Ignacio, Anthony and Rebecca.

A celebration of life will be held on January 21, 2021 at 11am at the New Life Church, 1414 2nd St. W,
Polson, MT, with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that random acts of kindness
towards others and animals be performed in his memory.