Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 08/02) - Jim Murphy, a fiercely-proud Irishman who came to Yellowknife in search of adventure and fortune in 1953, died Oct. 31.

Jim Murphy prospected across the North, flying with some of this territory's aviation greats. His family remembers him as quiet and generous.

He died of a tear around the aorta. He was 81 and had battled cancer and osteoporosis for his last few years of life. His death comes only months after his wife, Emily, died this Valentine's Day.

His daughter, Mary Anne Woytuik, remembers him as "loving, a quiet man, a wonderful grandpa, generous and Christian."

Born in farm country in Ireland, Murphy came to Canada in his early 30s after living for 10 years in London, where he enjoyed betting on horse races.

He came first to Toronto then, hearing about gold in Yellowknife, moved North.

"He was a pioneer," said Paul Laserich, a good friend of Murphy who is writing his eulogy. Staking and exploring across the North, Murphy flew with some of the luminaries in Northern aviation history, including Chuck McAvoy and Ernie Boffa.

He worked as a miner at both Giant and Con, but quit the gold industry after he broke his toe on the job and his wife issued him an ultimatum about quitting mining. He then worked for over two decades in maintenance at St. Patrick high school before retiring.

"He was a very physical type of an individual, strong, rugged," said Alan Woytuik, Murphy's son-in-law.

"He was a real gentleman," said Laserich, who would drop by Murphy's place for Irish whiskey and mulligan stew -- a concoction that Murphy would simmer out of all sorts of different ingredients.

"He was always a quiet, pleasant guy, he never complained. He was a prince of a guy, actually," said Laserich.

Murphy had two birthdays -- Jan. 19 and March 1, 1921. Born during winter's cold on a farm near Milltown in County Galway, Ireland, Murphy's parents were too busy to register his birth in January. By the time they got to town -- more than a month after his birth -- they had to reassign him his birthdate.

So the family always celebrated two birthdays: The first in January, as a reminder that Jim was older than his late wife, Emily, who was born in February, and another on his legal birth date.

Murphy dabbled in real estate and owned several properties around town. He had an active mind and would stop by the Northern News Services office early on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to pick up on the latest news.

He was also a strong family man, and had close ties with Woytuik's family and children.

The death of both Murphys has left an empty hole for those who knew them well.

"They were both elderly, so you know it's coming," said Alan Woytuik. "But you're never ever prepared for it. It's been a bit trying."