We are so sorry for your loss.When my dad passed away a friend sent the following to me. I found it very comforting.

Gone From My Sight (by Henry Van Dyke)

I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts out for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength.

I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud, just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other at the horizon.

Then someone at my side says, "There, she's gone".

But gone where?

Gone only from my sight, that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination.

Her diminshed size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she's gone"

There are other voices...

On another shore...

Ready to take up the glad shout,

"Here she comes"!

And that is dying.

Read

I remember the day Buddy, Don's dad, packed the car with spare tires, mounted on rims, tired to the roof and headed west to California. With May's mom and dad in a second car, off they all went on a great adventure. I use to see Don and family almost weekly prior to their departure, but not too often thereafter. Until the summer of 1957 when I stayed with them at their house in Wilmington while I worked at a nearby aircraft company. I have very fond memories of Don, Richard, Bud and May and how gracious they all treated me during my stay. The economic down turn in Fall River and the boom in California were part of the reason for their move west. Of course they visited Fall River often, sometimes driving almost non-stop across the country. I recall on one of my visits to Banning Donald taking me to a store on the reservation to buy a few things for my children. We spent most of the day together. He will be missed and always remembered.

I was so saddened to hear about Donald. Since I am an "East Coast" Murphy, I didn't get to see him very often but I still loved him very much. The last time we were there, we took photos of Bill on Donald's motorcycle. He was so proud of his cycle! Fond memories of the two of them laughing!

For all the "West Coast" Murphy's - stay strong. Love and memories will keep him alive in your hearts.

I will never forget you, Donald. We had many good times together.

Love you, Mary Lou