LEEDS – Joe and Liz Murphy of Leeds celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 29 at a surprise gathering at their home in Leeds.

The party was hosted by the couple’s children, Alice and the late Tom Murphy of Leeds, Diane and Tim Murphy of Leeds, and Danielle and Trent Murphy of Leeds, along with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Murphy is owner of Murphy Brothers of Leeds. They do trucking, logging and hauling gravel. It was owned jointly with his brother Jack before he died. He also owned Murphy Orchards for years, located up on Quaker Ridge Road in Leeds. During the 1950s and 1960s he built roads for the state of Maine. In the 1940s he also drove the school buses for the town of Leeds.

Before she was married, Mrs. Murphy worked for the Maine Central Bus Transportation in Lewiston. Then, when she had the boys and they were little, she worked in the fall for Chick Orchards packing apples. She worked for Textec Industries of Monmouth for 22 years as a receptionist and as the payroll clerk before retiring. She is an avid bowler holding many offices, including the president of the Maine State Bowlers League, president of the Twin Cities Bowling League and multiple offices within those organizations. She is also a member of the Monmouth Federal Credit Union board of directors.