Daniel Murphy

Daniel Habbart Murphy of Tilghman passed away at home Thursday, March 05, 2009, in his daughter Shirley’s arms. He was 82. Capt. Dan was born at Easton hospital to the late, John Sedgewick and Emily Earl Jones Murphy on October 31, 1926. He attended Tilghman Elementary School. At 11 years old he started working on a fishing party boat. At 13 he was taken out of school to work to help support the family while his older brothers finished school. The family intended for him to go back to school but he never got the opportunity, his education was the bay. He was hired to pound net fish and this began a life long career as a commercial fisherman. During his 58 years on the water he crabbed, tonged, dredged, haul seined, drift netted, pound netted, carried fishing parties, caught, bought and sold eels, often living on the boats. Any aspect of commercial fishing he did and after all that and all those years he would sit and watch the miracle of a crab shedding like he had never seen it before, totally in awe of nature. His family had a fishing camp at Breezy Point, after he married he worked with his wife’s family’s fishing camp at Perry Point. During his years on his boats he worked every river on the bay except the Little Choptank, which he always joked was right at his back door. He owned two Skipjacks, the Lola and the Joy Parks. The Joy Parks is on display at the Piney Point Museum in St. Mary’s County. In 2004 the Joy Parks was the center piece of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival ,Capt. Dan and family were guests of the Smithsonian for the festival. Capt. Dan joined the army during WWll and was sent to the European Theatre. At the end of the war he went to 13 countries returning captives to their home lands and also attended the Nuremberg trials. He was very proud of his service years. He was also a professional hunting guide, raised and trained dogs, Chesapeake’s in the 50s and 60s, and Labs in the 70s and 80s. He and his wife to be, Edwina Mortimer, built a house during their engagement and were married in that house on Feb. 18, 1950. After residing in the home which they built together they purchased the home she was born in from her parents in the 60s where they lived the rest of happy life together. Edwina died July 11, 2007 after 57 years of marriage. Capt. Dan died in the home Edwina was born in. Capt. Dan was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Ducks Unlimited, NRA and was President of the Talbot County Waterman’s Assoc. until its disbandment . He spent many years lobbying for the waterman in Maryland Legislature. With other men on the Island he helped start Little League Baseball. He enjoyed many activates baseball, cards, dancing. Capt. Dan and Edwina would often clear the dance floor and have an audience. Waterfowl hunting was his lifetime passion, starting at the age of 7 until his death. He also enjoyed spending time with his son in Alaska. Capt. Dan is survived by his children and their spouses, Danna M. Murden and her husband Mike of St. Michaels, Randolph S. Murphy and his wife Ann of Tilghman and Ninilchik, Alaska, Shirley M. Morris and her husband John of Denton and Richard J. Baynard and his wife Donna of Trappe; four grandchildren Donald Lord, James Baynard, Patience Morris and Emily Baynard. Several cousins’,many nieces and nephews that he dearly loved. In addition to his parents and his wife he was preceded in death by his brother John Murphy with whom he worked with for many years, brother Raymond Murphy, sisters Anna Leonard and Kitty Swartz, also two nieces, a nephew ( his name sake) and one great nephew which distressed him immensely. He gave everything away before his death including his beloved cats, Missy and Pretty Girl who is a feral cat that lives indoors. Capt. Dan will be remembered for his sense of humor which he had right to the end. His endless generosity, humility and his love of children, helping many in the community from the time he and Edwina were first married till the age of 81. His oldest daughter always said he should have been a millionaire, who knows how many children he would have helped. His mother in law often said she never saw a child he couldn’t connect with. With his huge stature you would think that children would be afraid of him, but they gravitated to him. He has been described as a huge man, but a gentle man. He loved that his birthday was Halloween, he always celebrated by enjoying the hoards of children that came Trick or Treating. Services will be held at 3p.m. on Saturday March 14, at Tilghman United Methodist Church where friends may call one hour prior. The Rev. Howard Embert and the Rev. Stanley Dixon will officiate. Rev. Dixon worked with Capt. Dan on the skipjacks as a young man. Interment will follow at the Tilghman Memorial Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Cummings, Jamie Monahan, Charlie Phillips, Jerry Janda, Roy Sadler, Lonnie Gowe, Randy Gowe, Chris Sherman, Gary Johnson and Mark Gotleib Jr., he chose them himself. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Tighman Volunteer Fire Co., 5979 Tilghman Island Rd., Tilghman, MD 21671 or the Tilghman Memorial Cemetery, 5731 Tilghman Island Rd., Tilghman MD 21671.

Daniel Murphy

October 31, 1926 - March 5, 2009