Michael Allyn Murphie

Michael Allyn Murphie passed away peacefully on August 20, 2026, at The Vineyard Park Cottages in Lacey, where he was being cared for because of dementia.

He was born on November 11, 1957, in Everett, Washington, to Norman Murphie and Margaret (Vaughn) Murphie. During his younger years, the family moved several times and lived in Spokane, Olympia, Kirkland, and finally settled in Montesano.

One summer as a teenager Mike got to travel to Mexico on a service adventure with other students. He enjoyed bowling, chess, playing softball, golf, and hiking, and was very good at whatever he decided to try. During high school, he worked as a cook at his parents' restaurant, “Murphie’s Drive In” near Aberdeen, and bought an iconic van with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon painted on it. He graduated from Montesano High School in 1976.

Shortly after graduating, he discovered a love for skiing, so he got a job up on the mountain at White Pass for several years. From White Pass he went to work as a buyer for a large wholesale business in the Seattle area. That job transferred him down to Texas. He later became a long-haul truck driver and eventually retired from that in Colorado during the time of COVID.

For many years he had a wolf named Lobo as a companion. Living out of his white van after his retirement, he would travel all over the country to visit relatives and friends. In the past few years, he would often drive up and explore the Mt. St. Helens area. Though his memory became limited, he was always a cheerful and kind soul. He would tell his stories of what he was doing when Mt. St. Helens erupted, and how he would drive safely to different places, and would often remind others what to do in case a deer jumped out in front of their car: “give a little toot-toot.”

He is survived by his sister Beth & her husband Gerry Lew from New Zealand, his sister Roxanne & her husband Steve Olsen from California, his brother Vaughn Murphie from the Olympia area, his sister Eileen Kasemeier from the Kelso area, his sister Kathleen Murphie from Oregon, his brother Bryan & his wife Shannon Murphie from the Port Angeles area, his cousins Ann Gates and John Murphie from Montesano, as well as three nieces, ten nephews, and many great nieces and great nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents Art & Millie Murphie, his aunt and uncle Don & Louisa Murphie, his brother-in-law Marv Kasemeier, and his cousin Mary.

There will be a private family gathering in the near future to celebrate his life.