Grave mishap
Funeral director now recovering after fall in cemetery and hearse ride to hospital
By BETTY ADAMS
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 10/10/2007

AUGUSTA -- There are falls from grace and falls into graves.

Take Leo Murphy's, for instance.

One misstep at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery during a Sept. 20 burial service, and the longtime funeral director from Augusta found himself in a grave, looking up through a cloud of dust.

"I fell in the grave backwards," Murphy said, two and a half weeks into his recovery. "I hit my left side on the corner of the grave. All of a sudden, I saw a cloud of dust, and that's where I was in the hole."

A gloved hand reached down and Murphy, who will be 80 in two weeks, reached up with his right hand and was raised from the grave.

"A gentleman from the cemetery said, 'Leo, you all right?'," Murphy recalled. "I thought I was going to die. I couldn't breathe."

Then his son, Pat, convinced him to get into the Plummer Funeral Home hearse to ride to the emergency room at MaineGeneral Medical Center.

"I was in the front seat when the security guard came around," Murphy said. "He said, 'Usually they don't come in this end.'"

Murphy was treated for two fractured ribs and a chest wall contusion, said another son, Michael.

"He pulled some boards for the casket to be lowered into a vault and then stepped back into the hole," said Michael Murphy, who got called on his day off to meet his dad at the hospital.

Luckily, Murphy had landed on his feet.

Murphy is feeling a little better.

"At least now I can laugh some," he said on Tuesday. "I'm eating pretty well and taking my medication."

He said it hurts to cough, sneeze, sigh, and yawn.

He said it was his first mishap at a grave in his 61 years as a funeral director.

And he's been getting some ribbing -- and get-well presents -- from his friends.

"I even got a Vermont 'doctor' bear from Roger Pomerleau," which carried the good wishes of Murphy's fellow Kiwanis members and a get-well poem from Don Tuttle.

The Murphy family operates Plummer Funeral Homes in Augusta and Windsor.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Bookmark and share this story: digg del.icio.us Reddit


Reader comments

Sort by: Oldest First | Newest first

Dana Damren of Augusta, ME
Oct 10, 2007 8:17 AM
I first met Leo Murphy 37 years ago following my mother's untimely death. I was only 12 years old at the time. He went on to handle the final arrangements for many other family memebers over the years. However, when he arrived -- alone -- at a local nursing home on a cold, stormy February night nearly 5 years ago to collect the remains of my last surviving grandmother, I was literally brought to tears. I knew then that everything would be all right.

Thank you, Mr. Murphy, for all you've done. I'm so glad to know that you're on the mend. I hope I have your stamina in another 30 years! report abuse
Cathylb of Augusta, ME
Oct 10, 2007 9:12 AM
Leo is a good soul. I wish him all the best for a speedy recovery!report abuse
Al Toons of Augusta, ME
Oct 10, 2007 3:35 PM
'Usually they don't come in this end.'

LOL You know it was that guy that must've told the paper that little story LOL

Sounds like he's a good spirited man, may he heal quickly
report abuse
Antiques of Gainesville, FL
Oct 10, 2007 4:00 PM
Leo is one of a kind. Get well soon as you are needed and loved by many.report abuse

Show all 5 comments

You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.