John Edward Murphy, 84, of Hutchinson, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. He was born May 4, 1924, in Garden City, the son of James Earl and Maple E. Sunley Murphy.

A resident of Hutchinson since Nov. 1, 1999, he was a graduate of Garden City High School and Fort Hays State University. He had worked for the Kansas Highway Patrol for 30 years. Following his retirement he was a District Magistrate Judge retiring after 15 years.

John was a member of First Baptist Church and belonged to the Kansas Peace Officers Association. A World War II Prisoner Of War for a year and a half, he was a US Army Veteran.

On May 20, 1951 he married Marian JoAnn Witherspoon in Topeka. She survives. Other survivors include three daughters: Teresa Jo Armstrong and husband David, Denver, Colo., Julie Ann Trent and husband, Martin, Inman, and Edie Jolene Ortmann and husband, Dwight, Fremont, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four brothers, William, Calvin, Taylor and James Murphy; and a sister, Rosetta Falk.

Graveside service will be held 1 p.m. Monday at Old Aubry Cemetery, Stilwell, Kan. Graveside Military Honors will be conducted by Kansas National Guard. Memorial contributions are suggested to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in care of Elliott Mortuary. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.