Peter Murphy Obituary

Peter George Murphy died peacefully at home on the evening of February 5, 2026.

He was born on February 23, 1942 in Astoria, Queens, New York City to George and Harriet Mank Murphy and grew up in New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Wood Products Engineering from the College of Forestry, Syracuse University.

After two years working in the rain forest of Puerto Rico, he earned a Master of Science at Syracuse and in 1970 a PhD in Plant Ecology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where he met his wife, Alice. He was a professor in the Plant Biology Department at Michigan State University where he worked his whole career. He was a University Distinguished Professor and Associate Chairman of his department. He loved teaching thousands of students and mentored 42 graduate students on to stellar careers. He specialized in Michigan sand dune ecology and received a commendation from the Governor for his work saving 300 acres of sensitive dune habitat that was annexed to the south side of Saugatuck Dunes State Park and Natural Area, making it available for the public to enjoy in perpetuity. His forty years of research in Tropical Dry Forest Ecology took him to Puerto Rico, Central and South America, Africa, Indonesia and Australia. During retirement, he published 53 articles in the Central States Archaeological Journal.

He is survived by his beloved wife Alice Jorgensen Murphy and his wonderful daughters and sons-in-law, Erin (Jim) Gowell of Ypsilanti, Suzie (Jared) Fromson of St. Johns and Jeanie (Colin) Bushong of Traverse City. He leaves behind seven talented grandchildren, Sarah, Ben and Rachel Gowell, Georgia and Josh Fromson and Liam and Kellen Bushong.

Pete traveled the world as an ecologist and travelled the backroads of America both with his family and during retirement and never tired of sharing humorous stories about his very blessed life, even during his last battle with cancer. He will be acutely missed.

A memorial get together will take place later in the year.

Donations in his name can be made to:

The Clinton County Historical Society Archives,

P O Box 174, St. Johns, MI 48879

or to the

College of Environmental Science and Forestry,

Syracuse University, Centennial Hall,

PO Box 6486, Syracuse, NY 13217-6486

For further information, phone McGeehan Funeral Home, St. Johns at 989-224-4422.