Carl Lee Murphy, 78, of West Burlington, Iowa, formerly of Keithsburg, Illinois died Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa.

Memorial services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Bewley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Aledo. Visitation is noon until time of the service at the funeral home. Private burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Carl Lee Murphy memorial fund.

Mr. Murphy was born July 23, 1931 in Washington, Iowa, the son of Harry and Martha Davidson Murphy. He married Joanne Van Dyke in 1950. They later divorced. He married Deborah Bond on March 18, 1977 in Biggsville, Illinois.

Carl worked as a farmer and construction worker. He and his wife, Debbie, also owned and operated an ice cream truck in Florida before moving back to Illinois in 1988. He was a 1949 graduate of Sherrard high School where he played football. He was a member of the Eagles Club in Florida. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. In recent years, he enjoyed dressing up as Santa Clause for family and community parties, including the West Burlington Fire Department’s children’s party when he would arrive each year in a fire engine. He also enjoyed playing penny slots at the local casinos.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie; sons, Ronald (Jill) Murphy, Aledo, Clayton (Jeanie) Murphy of Wild Rose, WI, Todd (Tiffany) Murphy, Viola; daughters Penny Murphy, Galesburg, Paula Murphy, Rock Island, Melissa (John) DeLlanos, West Burlington, Amy (Jeff) Parsons, Burlington; 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild expected in November; one brother, Jack Murphy, CA; sisters, Juanita Gould, WA, Sally Kellar, Colona, Bonnie (Lloyd) Burton, Reynolds; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one infant brother, one granddaughter and brothers-in-law George Gould and Gene Kellar.