Marion Ancil Murphy, 90, of Liberty, KY, a visionary educator, orchardist, and a cornerstone of the Casey County community, passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Casey County Hospital. He was born on May 26, 1935 at his family home near Liberty, the son of the late Herman and Elsie Murphy.
Growing up on the local soil, he developed a deep-seated respect for the farming way of life, a passion that defined his career as a Horticulture Teacher at the Casey County Vocational School for many years. Marion took great pride in his garden and his orchards, assisting the Casey County Detention Center with their community garden. Marion loved to communicate with his community and educate them on growing their choice of crops. In the early 1970s, he co-founded the Casey County Apple Festival, helping local farmers market their harvest in addition to the county’s significant amount acres of apple trees. Though the founders initially hoped the event would last just a few years, Marion’s vision blossomed into a legendary Kentucky tradition that has endured for over half a century. Marion was a man of the earth who turned a practical idea into a legacy, but his greatest pride was his family. He loved and cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren deeply. Marion enjoyed cooking for his friends to gather them together often. He remains a testament to the impact one person can have when they dedicate their life to the people and the land they call home.
SURVIVORS:
2 sons: Mark (and Donna) Murphy of Liberty and Mike (and Angela) Murphy of Somerset
1 daughter: Marsha (and Wallace) Payton of Liberty
1 brother: Howard Murphy of Versailles
6 grandchildren: Becky (and Mark) Hinkle, Natasha (and Brian) McQueary, Jessica (and Pete) McQueary, Demi (and Harvey) Toebee, Bryley (and Kendall) Murphy and Grayson (and Anthony Calabrese) Murphy
13 great-grandchildren
Several friends & neighbors
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Bernita Rochelle Murphy; two brothers: John Bearl Murphy and James Shearl Murphy; and four sisters: Ethel Murphy, Lorene Noel, Deloris “Dee” Campbell, and Anita Fletcher.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 1:00pmET at McKinney-Brown Funeral Home in Liberty, KY with Bro. Steve Martin officiating
BURIAL: Gum Lick Cemetery
VISITATION: Beginning at 11:00amET on Thursday at the funeral home
Memorial contributions may take the form of donations In Memory of Marion Murphy to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKinney-Brown Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.mckinneybrown.com.
