Dean Allen Murphy

October 17, 1922 ~ December 20, 2018
He was born in 1922 the son of Curtis and Gladys (Stevens) Murphy and raised in Nebraska. Murph was a graduate of Jackson High School in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1940. Murph served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska (1947-1949) and a M.A. degree from the University of Missouri (1951).
He was united in marriage to Bette Roxanne Cochrane of Lincoln, NE in 1944. They celebrated 66 years together.
Murph was a part-time employee of Nebraska Department of Conservation 1947-1949. He was employed in 1951 as a Deer Research Biologist by the Missouri Department of Conservation in Columbia. He worked on nearly all phases of biology and management of white tail deer, with special interest in disease, nutrition, and range analysis. He was promoted to Superintendent of Game Management in 1969, became Assistant Chief of the Wildlife Division in 1971, and Chief of the Wildlife Division in 1977.
He was a charter member of the North Central Section and Missouri Wildlife chapter. He served as Treasurer and as President of both Section and Chapter. He was on numerous committees of both Section and Chapter and served on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Wildlife Management.
Murph was a devoted tennis player and played daily for many, many years. He played his final game at the age of 86.
Murph amassed a large collection of antique Made in Missouri Fishing Lures. This collection he donated to the Missouri Conservation Commission for display at the Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City and several other CC Stations around Missouri. Murph researched, wrote, and published two editions of a book called “Fishing Tackle Made in Missouri.”
Murph’s accomplishments included: TWS Nominating Committee 1977-1978; Leopold Award Committee 1980; Chairman Leopold Committee 1981; Missouri Flyway Council 1977-1984, Chairman 1977; Chairman Planning Committee 1980-1984; Scorer for Boone and Crocket Club 1953-1984; Chairman of Judges 1983 for Boone and Crocket Club Competition; Co-Founder of Show-Me-Big Bucks Club; received Conservationist of the Year Award from the Missouri Conservation Federation in 1973; received the Missouri Chapter of Wildlife Society E Sydney Stephen Award 1994; life member of the Missouri Conservation Federation; and was a founder of the Conservation Employee Retirees.
Murph and Bette were members of Countrysiders Social group for 50 years. He was a member of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club and a member of the River City Collectors Club.
Murph is survived by a daughter, Coleen Weichmann (Mike) of Carson City, NV; son, Dennis Murphy (Verna) of Bosworth, MO; a daughter, Cathleen Murphy of Jefferson City; a sister, Darlene Houdasheldt of Fort Collins, CO; a granddaughter, Lara McClure (Bill) of Jefferson City; two grandsons, Derek Sigler (Jodi) of St. Louis, MO; Scott Murphy (Ashley) of Carrollton, MO; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Michael Murphy.
Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. Saturday, January 5, 2019, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home in Jefferson City.
Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Those wishing to send condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.
I first met Dean in the early 80s as a new member of our fishing tackle collectors’ club and enjoyed visiting with him over these many years at our shows and swap meets. As a longtime (now retired) outdoor writer, I also enjoyed his zeal for hunting and fishing and his love for Missouri’s fishing history. My condolences to the family and others who loved him. best regards, Robbie Pavey, Augusta, Ga.
Donna and I were blessed to know Murph as a friend through Conservation and through collecting old fishing tackle. I shared some fun tackle show road trips with Murph over the years and came to realize how many tackle collecting pals he had all over the country. Our condolences to the whole family. Until we meet again Murph . . . may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Dean and Bette were our neighbors at Lake Champetra for many years. They were wonderful neighbors and we loved them. A funny story – while they were traveling we heard a rattle coming from around their mailbox. Fearing that a rattlesnake had set up a home there we went over and tried to shoo away the rattler. We destroyed their landscaping and it turned out that the rattler was a decoy! We all laughed about that for many years. Also, Dean always gave our children the annual conservation calendar; something they really looked forward to each year. He was a kind and interesting man. Love, Nick and Barbara Boshard
Dean Murphy was Wildlife Division Chief when I first knew him. I was a conservation agent at the time in Laclede county and called the Central Office to ask about the process for measuring a set of deer antlers for a local hunter and, by chance that day, connected with Dean who answered my questions so that I could proceed. I was promoted to Wildlife Division as a field service agent in 1983 with headquarters at Cape Girardeau and got to know Dean better although he retired just before I was promoted to the Central Office in the late 1980’s. However, I frequented the local YMCA and would often visit with Dean in the locker room after our respective exercise regimens. Toward the end of my career I was promoted to Private Land Services Division Chief and was honored me with his attendance at my retirement party in 2010. After retirement, I enjoyed nearly monthly coffee and visits with Dean at the Pioneers gathering at HyVee in Jefferson City. Dean was a stellar professional of high integrity, strong work ethic, and he was one that cared about the people around him. I counted him a friend, will remember him always, and will certainly miss him. Dean was a credit to himself, his profession, MDC, and his family and I believe he made a difference with his life.