Larry Murphy

Larry Sidney Murphy, resident of Manhattan, Kansas, (1965-2023), was born December 15, 1937, in Greenfield, Missouri, the son of King and Ottalee Murphy. King and Ottalee moved to a farm two miles north of Greenfield in the early 1940’s and it was there Dad began his love and lifelong involvement with agriculture.

Larry graduated from Greenfield High School in 1955 and after a brief stint in the U.S. Army, he attended the University of Missouri in Columbia where he received his bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in Agronomy. I

It was at the University of Missouri that Dad met Sandra D. Grant from Independence, Missouri. Dad was president of Farmhouse Fraternity and Mom was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Mom remembers coming down the stairs in the ADPi house and being impressed with Dad’s broad shoulders. 

They were married in January of 1959. The family laughs at the story of how Dad’s GPA went up after marriage and mom’s GPA went down though only slightly.

In 1965 Dad joined the faculty of the Kansas State University, Department of Agronomy where he was responsible for teaching and research in soil fertility and fertilizer technology. 

Dad joined Kansas State as an assistant professor and by 1973 was promoted to full professor. Larry directed the completed programs of 24 M.S. students and 10 Ph.D. students. Mom’s degree was in chemistry so she understood a great deal when discussing Dad’s research. I know Mom enjoyed those discussions.

In 1978 Dad was appointed Great Plains Director of the Potash and Phosphate Institute where he supervised research and education programs in nine states. Dad served with PPI until 1996 in the capacity of senior vice president. 

He became vice-president of research with Donlar Corporation and served in that capacity until 1998 when he became a professional consultant and operated his own business known as Murphy Agro.

Dad has over 200 professional publications and conducted research throughout the world. He was inducted into the Southwestern Fertilizer Conference’s Fertilizer Hall of Fame in 2022 for his outstanding efforts in agronomic research.

In July of 2023 Larry moved to Nashville to live with his son Russ and daughter-in-law Caroline. He had several good months of exploring the area around Nashville and listening to lots of live country music. 

In December of 2023 Larry suffered a mild stroke which affected his balance. He had to enter long term care at a facility just seven miles from Russ and Caroline’s ranch house.

Larry is survived by his wife, Sandy Murphy, of Manhattan, Kansas; son Russ and his wife, Caroline of Goodlettsville, Tennesee; son Sean of Olathe, Kansas; sister Myra Jane Scroggs of Springfield, Missouri. Grandchildren include Samantha Murphy-Hunter, Cole Murphy, Morgan Murphy-Fiene, Isaac Iriarte, Zach Edwards, and Sophia Edwards. Great-grandchildren include Koltyn Murphy Locke and Brooklyn Hunter. Nieces include Laura Spencer of Springfield, Missouri and Sara Korman of Columbia, Missouri.

We will all miss Dad a great deal, but his legacy will live on in friends and family who survive him, and we will all be eternally grateful to our Lord and Savior for the time we spent with him.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Larry can do so by supporting his favorite steam powered historic railroad. Go to the website www.friendsofcumbrestoltec.org

Click on the banner/header “Support Our Efforts”

Click on DONATE

This will open the donation page. Scroll down to where you can make a donation in honor or memory of Larry S. Murphy. Dad will greatly appreciate it.

A celebration of life will be held in Chama, New Mexico, in late September, early October of 2026. It will include a historic train ride on the Cumbres and Toltec. For those wishing more detail please reach out to Russ.