Dennis Donald Murphy's Obituary
Dennis Donald Murphy age 74, passed away unexpectedly November 12th, 2025 at his home in Ludington.
Denny was born in Hastings, the youngest child of Grace and Donald Murphy and graduated from Hastings High School with the class of 1970. During high school Denny learned the skill of auto body repair while working at Delton Auto Body for Dick Baker. He gained a daughter, Roxanne Robertson, when he married Denise VanHouten, and they soon welcomed a son, Justin Murphy. In the mid-80s, Denny moved his family to Ludington and worked at a body shop until he purchased a building in Scottville and started Murphy’s Auto Body which he ran until retirement in 2013.
Denny had a great childhood growing up between Leach Lake and Middle Lake in Hastings. You would often find him camping, swimming, and fishing with his brother Mike or other childhood friends. In the fall and winter, he would hunt rabbits, pheasants, deer, and racoons. In the winter, they spent time ice skating on Leach Lake. If it was windy enough, he and his brother would take a sheet with them so they could use it as a sail and let the wind pull them back across the lake.
Denny had a passion for gardening and loved to share his canned goods with friends and family; everyone loved his homemade pickles. He had a love for Doodlebugs and passed his own Doodlebug onto his only grandson. He loved mushroom hunting and took all his best kept secret spots with him. Many family members compliment his storytelling abilities and sharing of family history. When Denny told stories to his nieces and nephews, he never spared the details of their parents’ actions or the results of those actions. Those stories will now be shared through the generations.
Denny was preceded in death by his parents Grace and Donald Murphy; his brother-in-law Doug Atkinson; niece and nephew Lori and Jimmy Smalley; and great niece Kyomi.
Many will hold onto his memories and stories including his two children Roxanne (Steve), and Justin Murphy; his grandson Anthony; his siblings Carol Atkinson, Mike (Sue) Murphy, and Patricia Murphy; along with 11 nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews, and his long-time best friend Mike Novisky.
For those who wish to gather in remembrance and share stories there will be a memorial luncheon at the Moose Lodge in Delton, MI on November 29th from 11am-2pm. A burial will take place in the spring at Riverton Cemetery in Scottville, with a gathering following at Murphy’s Tavern in Pentwater.
Memorial donations can be made to Kyomi’s Gift through Barry Community Foundation or at www.kyomisgift.org.
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