Jim is one of the best friends I’ve ever had in coaching. He was the best coach I’ve ever competed against. He owned me! His teams were always played very hard and were always super well coached. His teams played like I would like the teams I coached to play. I asked Jim if I could pick his brain for ideas. He invited me to his house and then he showed me absolutely everything they did. He showed me the offense and defense they ran and all their out of bounds plays. He also gave me some great drills that we used every day. We even named one of them the Murph drill. He went way above and beyond especially considering we played them every year. He was also incredibly encouraging. No matter what the score or situation he would always have something nice to say to me. Even after he quit coaching he would come to the games and always tell me what a good job I was doing. He could never know how much that meant to me. I also know how much he loved the kids he coached. I could only hope for my own children to have a coach like Jim some day. I for sure will remember Jim for being a great coach, the best, but as great as a coach he was he was an even greater person. God Bless you Murph.

I am very sorry for your loss. He was a good man, teacher and coach. Mr. Murphy was my teacher senior year but I saw him long before that I was going to all the basketball games that he coached at Hanford when I was a little girl. The basketball games will never be the same now that you are gone. I know that you are in a better place and pain free but you where one of the best teachers that I had and I will never forget you.

With my regards

Shanna Schumacher

Nancy,

It has been a very long time since we were colleagues at Prosser High School. My thoughts are with you now. Take heart in that Jim’s influence lives on in so many lives.

Peace be with you,

Sandy Graf, PHS retired

I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to Mr. Murphy’s loved ones. I was very fortunate to have been a student in more than one of his classes at Hanford High. He was a great teacher and a great person. He didn’t just teach lessons out of a book, he taught us lessons about what matters. And he always did it with a twinkle in his eyes and that wonderful smile. I will always be thankful to him for taking the time after class, on more than one occasion when my grades had slipped, to talk to me about my potential.

He was truly one of a kind. He made a difference. I can only pray that my son is as blessed as I was to have a teacher like him that really cares about students. God Bless you, Coach! We were certainly blessed for having known you.

The best part of being a student at Hanford K-12 was that Murphy was an impact in my life that much earlier. My first contact with Murph was at those summer school basketball camps as a youth. As a youngster you started working towards the goal of playing for Coach Murph. A known factor early on was that you’d have to be willing to work hard, and most of all be a complete player. What great life skills these are.. on and off the court. I don’t know if he knew it or not, but by making Hanford Girls’ basketball such a dynasty he gave so many little girls the dream to compete.

I am very saddened about the passing of Jim Murphy and wish his wife and family the best during this difficult time.

Coach Murph had a tremendous impact on me as a teacher, person, and coach. I was lucky enough to attend HHS as a student and knew Jim as both a student and athlete. He was always a great guy that everyone liked.

Coaching for me at HHS will never be the same without Coach Murph at all the games. He was always the one person I spoke to before every game during my eleven years of coaching at HHS. I generally do not like to talk to anyone much before games, but I always went to Murph before every game for some wisdom or advice he might have for me. He always had some encouragement for the upcoming game. I always talked to Murph because I had so much respect for him as a coach and person. It was a great honor to coach with him witnessing our games. There will be an emptiness in our gym next season.

Jim was such a fun person with a great sense of humor. I was lucky enough to teach with him for my first four years at HHS. He was my department head and always went out of his way to help me and other teachers. He also had a tremendous relationship with students.

Coach was always so encouraging to me in basketball and wrote me some of the nicest cards I have received during my career. I have saved them all and will always cherish my relationship with Coach Murphy.

Murph was certainly one of the greatest, if not greatest coach ever at Hanford High School. His record as HHS Girls Basketball Coach is simply phenomenal. Beyond that, he was a better person than coach. We will all miss him.

Paul Mayer

Jim was a great person, and had a huge impact on everyone he came in contact with. His attitude will carry on in the lives of those who remember him. My thought and prayers are with his family

I want to say how sad this time is for all of you and I do wish there was something I could do to make things better. Jim lived at my parents home in Havre while attending college Morrison Mannor. Jim was the one of my adopted family and will always have a special place in my heart. He was the one that my mom was the most proud of for finishing college. Jim had apositive effect on me and I will always remember laughing till our side hurt in Pinochle games and at all the funny funny things Murph could come up with. My life will always be richer because this gentle wonderful man was a part of it. I could never have asked for a better adopted thru the heart brother. Again my prayer for you is to be strong and always remember the special person who made such a positive impact on so many lives.

Warmest Reguards

Kathleen Morrison Maloughney

I offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Jim Murphy.

I attended Hanford High while Jim was coaching and teaching there. I had heard of him prior due to his coaching achievements, and was suprised to find him so personable, approachable, and kind. What I remember most about Jim was his warm smile. Any time I passed him in the hall or saw him on campus, he would look me right in the eye and give me the most sincere and genuine smile.

I will miss him greatly, I hope it offers some comfort knowing the impact his seeminly simple gestures had on me daily.

Warmest regards,

Dan Colleran

Nancy,

It has been many years since your tenure in Prosser but you and Jim have been often in our thoughts.

Our deepest feelings and prayers go out to you and for Jim’s safe passage to his new home.

Jim Raney

Nancy-

I was so sorry to hear about Jim’s passing, and so wanted to be able to attend Jim’s memorial service today, but was not able to work it out. Jim was a great guy who touched the lives of so many students in a positive way. I can honestly say that I never heard anyone say anything unkind about Jim. I am a better person for having known Jim both professionally and personally.

May God bless you at this difficult time.

Mike Nordsten

i am saddened to hear of the passing of jim. he will be missed. i had the privilege of working with him at hanford high school. we became friends; we were both teachers and coaches. the people he came in contact with were surely blessed because of him. his attitude and values went far beyond that of teaching and coaching; i guess in the long run that is more important. whenever i saw him after i was out of teaching he always had kind words to share with me. i have lost a friend. words can’t adequately be said how i am feeling. my thoughts and prayers are with his family. GOD BLESS YOU ALL DURING THIS TIME. i am glad to have the opportunity to reflect and celebrate jim’s life. ray hall, teacher, coach and friend

I just wanted to express my condolences to your family. I have fond memories of Coach Murphy. He worked us hard in practise and always had a twinkle in his eye and a smile. His sense of humor made his class enjoyable and his straightforwardness earned our respect. Best of wishes in this difficult time.

Jim was a wonderful teacher and when I found out he was no longer on this earth, I was deeply saddened by the news. I will miss him terribly and always remember him fondly.

I am so sorry for your loss. Mr.Murphy was a great person. He was by far my favorite teacher, I will really miss seeing him at home games. He was what a teacher was suppossed to be.

Again I am so sorry for your loss.