Obituary: Grocery store worker Keith Murphy ‘was a legend’ in east Burlington

Keith Murphy touched a lot of hearts.

His family has been overwhelmed by cards, flowers and food since the Burlington resident died Jan. 28 at the age of 60.

Murphy was a celebrity in the neighbourhood, working for more than two decades at the Appleby Line Fortinos, bagging groceries, helping customers and retrieving carts from the parking lot.

We're just overwhelmed by the amount of people who have contacted us," says his sister Carolyn Murphy, who works in Australia as a special education teacher.

They just say he was a joyous person. So many people who went to the Fortinos say they always looked for him in his aisle. He was a legend in the store. We're getting cards from people we don't even know."

Murphy was also known around the neighbourhood for volunteering to cut resident's lawns, rake leaves and shovel driveways. His mother Pat says even when he was dying in the hospice he was asking if anyone needed help.

We can hardly move for all of the flowers and dinners," she said. The neighbours have said Ashland Drive won't be the same without him. He was always willing to help."

A man with Down Syndrome, Murphy had been in failing health for the last two years after being diagnosed with Lew Body Dementia, the same disease that comedian Robin Williams had. He entered The Carpenter Hospice three weeks before his death.

Murphy was born Dec. 9, 1961 in St. Catharines, the fourth child of Pat and Neil Murphy. The family moved to Burlington when he was six and he attended Mayfield School and, for a time, worked at ARC Industries. Pat Murphy ran Murphy's Manor, a Bed and Breakfast, between 1986-2016 with the help of her son.

Murphy took part in the Special Olympics, where he won some medals, was a rug hooker and was a big fan of wrestling, country music and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He also liked to ski and bowl.

He loved his life," said his sister. He never complained. He was always saying, Can I help?'"

His mother called Keith my gift. We had 60 years together. I know he had a good life."

All told, he worked at Fortinos for more than 30 years. He worked at the store at Guelph Line and Upper Middle Road before moving to the store at Appleby Line and New Street about 1998.

Debbie Turner, an employment support worker from Community Living Burlington, who worked with Murphy, said he was a hard worker.

He was the shining smile at the end of the cash lane," said Turner. I think that was so awesome. He lived in the community. He worked in the community. A lot of people in the community knew him. He was well loved at that store."

She said he had a kind heart' and when they met they would often share stories about their favourite TV shows, musicians and songs.

Keith always had time for a chat," said Turner. He was always asking me how I was."

Joe Zukiel was the former owner of the Appleby Line Fortinos, running it from 1997-2008. He is now the district manager for Fortinos in the Hamilton-Burlington area and oversees 12 stores.

The big thing about Keith was how friendly he was with everyone," said Zukiel. He was good with the customers. He was a nice man. He thoroughly enjoyed coming to work. Any customer who came in, you could count on them asking about Keith."

He recalled going to Murphy's 40th birthday party with other staff from the store.

He was so happy we came," added Zukiel. He had so much fun. He was so inviting. He was just a happy guy."

Murphy is survived by his mother Pat, sister Caryolyn, brothers Jim, Con and Stephen, and 10 nephews and nieces. He is also survived by his father Neal, who lives in Cranbrook, B.C.

Daniel Nolan can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com