The Life of CLAYTON WILLIAM MURPHY JR.
Clayton William Murphy, Jr. was born November 5, 1956 to Priscilla and Clayton Murphy in Chicago, Illinois. After living in Illinois for a number of years his family moved to West Des Moines where he graduated from Valley High School. He went on to earn a music education degree from Northern Illinois University and taught middle school band for several years in Elgin, Illinois. Clayton began his insurance career as a property/casualty underwriter at General Reinsurance, where he worked for almost 20 years. He was initially assigned to the Des Moines office and he reconnected with Julie Hintz, a long time friend. They were married in 1984. Gen Re moved him back to the Chicago area and he and Julie settled in Wheaton. They adopted Andrei and Genia in 1993. After moving back to Des Moines in 2000, Clayton worked for EMC and then retired on disability.
Clayton enjoyed playing bass trombone with a number of organizations, including the Wheaton Summer Symphony, the Fox Valley Concert Band, the Des Moines Big Band, the Des Moines Municipal Band, the Central Iowa Symphony and the CJC Big Band. He was always active in the churches he attended throughout his life, and especially enjoyed singing in the choir and playing trombone. Clayton loved to cook and he loved helping others. He participated in a number of Habitat for Humanity builds around the country and served as Faith Coordinator for the Greater Des Moines affiliate for a year.
Missing Clayton are his wife, Julie; son, Andrei, Andrei’s wife, Alyson and granddaughter, Madison; daughter, Genia; brothers Rob and Bill (Debbie); and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Clayton was preceded in death by his parents, Priscilla and Clayton. Clayton especially wanted to acknowledge the leaders of his church youth program as he was growing up, Bill Weber and Gene Wilson, and all of you who have connected with him through the years.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Plymouth Church’s Waveland Hall, 4126 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50312. Memorial contributions can be directed to Plymouth Church or the American Kidney Fund.