Robert Keith Murphy

August 21, 1929 - September 1, 2021

Robert (Bob) Murphy, 92, of Ault, Colorado, passed away Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Bob was born at home on August 21, 1929 to Mabel and Edgar (Mutt) Murphy in Hennessey, Oklahoma. He was an only child and attended Hennessey Public Schools. Following graduation from high school, Bob joined the United States Air Force, serving during the Korean War from 1948 to 1952. He was awarded the Good Conduct and Korean Service Awards. After his military service, Bob moved to Greeley, Colorado using his GI Bill to attend the University of Northern Colorado. He worked part-time at a sporting goods store during college and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. From 1958 to 1962, Bob taught high school History and coached football in Adams County, Johnstown County, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. From 1962 to 1977, Bob worked for the Justin Boot Company of Fort Worth, Texas. His sales territory included the Rocky Mountain Region. Bob received numerous awards throughout his career, including the “Rookie of the Year Award” in 1963 and was named the number one leather goods salesman in 1964. Most recently, he was awarded the Lifetime Salesman Award by the Western and English Sales Association at Denver Western Market in 2016. Bob was an avid antique collector. He loved finding anything old, especially old cars and gas pumps. He bought and sold numerous antique license plates, toys, farm tools, and signs. Bob knew almost every antique store within a six-state radius. His love for antiques led to him becoming the President of the High Plains Historical Museum in Nunn, Colorado, a position he proudly held for eight years. On May 6, 2018, Bob was honored on Northern Colorado’s 20th Annual Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to visit the Nation’s war memorials with World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam veterans of Northern Colorado. Bob is survived by sons Robert Wesley Murphy (Julie) of Greeley, Colorado, and Marc Charles Murphy of Loveland, Colorado; daughter Marci Ann Hendricks (Mark) of Pawhuska, Oklahoma; three granddaughters: Haley Carter (Daniel) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Allie Michael (Derek) of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Jeni Stallings (Jackson) of Washington, D.C.; six great-grandchildren: Cohen Carter and Cate Carter, Canon Michael, Crew Michael, and Maris Michael, and Henry Stallings. The graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 7, under the direction of Moser Funeral Service at the Eaton Cemetery. Lunch will be served at Eaton Country Club immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Northern Colorado - High Plains Honor Flight highplainshonorflight.org.