William (Billy) Bernard Murphy Jr, 54, of Beaver Bank NS passed away Sunday, January 12th at the Victoria General Hospital. Born in Halifax NS, he was the son of Bernie and Sheila Murphy. He had been battling appendix cancer for 13 months.
Billy was an active little boy who was described as “energetic”. His parents Bernie and Sheila fondly recounted him walking at 9 months, and about finding him in unusual places such as the top of the fridge or rolling down the driveway in the car that was out of gear. His brother, Anthony, was sometimes his partner in crime.
Growing up, Billy spent his days outdoors playing road hockey, biking, swimming in Tucker Lake, and playing baseball at the Beaver Bank ball field with his friends from Danny Drive. These close bonds and friendships were maintained throughout Billy’s life. The stories and antics were always entertaining. He cherished the relationships from those days and spoke of them often.
After high school, Billy attended NSCC Akerley where he earned his Red Seal in welding. He went on to work as a proud member of Local 56 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union for 27 years. Later, he went back to school and received his Red Seal in Pipefitting. He worked at the Halifax Irving Shipyard for 13 years, briefly as a white hat, but was mainly on the tools. He was well respected due to his strong work ethic and humour. He was loved by so many there. Two days before his death, he was honored by a parade of his dear friends and coworkers with a final goodbye. They have named an annual hockey tournament at Irving after him “The Billy Murphy Memorial Hockey Tournament.”
Billy adored his family. He called his wife, Lee, “his rock” and told many people that having her around made him feel better when he was sick. His daughter, Jana, was a daddy’s girl though they often butted heads being similar in personality. He loved his “Nanny-May” very, very much. His son, Cameron, was like his father in that, he loved the outdoors and riding his four-wheeler. They spent a lot of time together doing four-wheeler runs with groups of close friends.
He loved camping and campfires. At the campground or in the backyard of the house, he could be found on summer evenings by the fire, listening to his playlist of music, drinking his Cuban rum and smoking his Cuban cigar. Scooby was often by his side, and later, Jax would sit briefly or at least long enough to have a ball thrown to fetch.
Billy was an avid hunter. During hunting season, he would check his trail camera regularly and would update his father about the big doe or the 8-point buck that he saw by his blind. In the last months of his life, he found joy sitting peacefully in the woods. He didn’t get the 8-point this year but he did manage to get a doe.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Lee; his son, Cameron; and his daughter, Jana; his parents, Bernie and Sheila Murphy; his brother, Anthony (Denise); his half-brothers, Carey (Lisa) and Steven (Lesley); parents in-law, Scot & Nancy Jennings; sister in-law, Erin (DongWoo); and nieces & nephews Alara, Myla, Sam, Sarah, Garrett, Mira & Nico.
He is predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Emma-Jean Defry; paternal grandparents, Anthony & Cecelia (Currie) Murphy; uncle, Gerald Whitman; and aunt, Veronica (Murphy) Mosher.
There will be no visitation. The funeral will be held on Saturday, January 18th at 2pm at Faith Baptist Church (299 Stokil Drive in Lower Sackville NS). Rev Borden Scott will be officiating. Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
A special thank you goes out to the wonderful doctors who cared for Billy. His outstanding oncologist Dr Sheridan and her nurse Madison, his surgeon Dr Knapp, his respirologist Dr Houston and his nurse Coco and finally Dr Rivers-Bowerman who went above and beyond to help when Billy started to decline.
He was so lucky to have so much love and support. There are so many amazing people who have helped him throughout this tumultuous year. Thank you, you know who you are.
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