Robert Clocher
Type 3 Licensed Funeral Director
Robert “Bob” Clocher has been a licensed funeral director since 1991. Born in Peabody, Bob was raised throughout his life in Gardner Park and a graduate from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in 1981. Bob was a resident of Beverly for 38 years before moving to Chelmsford in 2021.
Bob earned his associates degree from North Shore Community College in Beverly in 1984 and continued in a business program working towards his degree in accounting. He realized that it was not the path for him and started his own business in painting and wallpapering. Having a young family, Bob began working part-time at a funeral home as a funeral assistant and shortly realized it was the calling for him. Graduating from Mt. Ida College in 1991, he received his license shortly after that. He has been with the Murphy Family for over 20 years and in the funeral industry for over 40 serving the greater North Shore and Boston area.
Bob is married to Stephen Smith-Clocher and have two children, 5 grandchildren and a large extended family. He enjoys spending time with their family and having their granddaughters at their home often. They enjoy the theatre, live concerts, quiet drives in their convertible, and finding new restaurants to enjoy and quiet evenings at home. He is a member of the Masons and past Chapter “Dad” Advisor in DeMolay, the boy’s youth group in the Masons.
Robert Clocher
Type 3 Licensed Funeral Director
Robert “Bob” Clocher has been a licensed funeral director since 1991. Born in Peabody, Bob was raised throughout his life in Gardner Park and a graduate from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in 1981. Bob was a resident of Beverly for 38 years before moving to Chelmsford in 2021.
Bob earned his associates degree from North Shore Community College in Beverly in 1984 and continued in a business program working towards his degree in accounting. He realized that it was not the path for him and started his own business in painting and wallpapering. Having a young family, Bob began working part-time at a funeral home as a funeral assistant and shortly realized it was the calling for him. Graduating from Mt. Ida College in 1991, he received his license shortly after that. He has been with the Murphy Family for over 20 years and in the funeral industry for over 40 serving the greater North Shore and Boston area.
Bob is married to Stephen Smith-Clocher and have two children, 5 grandchildren and a large extended family. He enjoys spending time with their family and having their granddaughters at their home often. They enjoy the theatre, live concerts, quiet drives in their convertible, and finding new restaurants to enjoy and quiet evenings at home. He is a member of the Masons and past Chapter “Dad” Advisor in DeMolay, the boy’s youth group in the Masons.
Christopher M.J. Ellis
Type 6 Licensed Funeral Director
Christopher M.J. Ellis has been a licensed funeral director since 2019. A lifelong resident of Lynn, Christoper is the son of Cathy and Arnold Ellis. A graduate from Lynn Classical in 2010, he went on to get his bachelor's degree in English from Salem State University in 2017. During that time, Christopher began his career in the funeral service profession back in 2015 with the Murphy Funeral Home, working part-time as an assistant. After working a few months there, he went on to pursue his degree in Funeral Service from Mt. Ita College in 2019 and was licensed in October of that year. After a short time, Christopher joined the Murphy Funeral Home family again in 2022, where he has been a full-time funeral director since.
Outside of his work, Christopher is an active member of the Essex Lodge of Freemasonry in Salem and the Aleppo Shriners in Wilmington. Having been treated at Boston Children's Hospital for a heart defect, he proudly contributes to the Hospital continuously. Christopher is also an avid Boston Sports fan, especially for the Bruins. In his free time, he likes to spend it skating on the ice and spend time with close friends and family.
Christopher M.J. Ellis
Type 6 Licensed Funeral Director
Christopher M.J. Ellis has been a licensed funeral director since 2019. A lifelong resident of Lynn, Christoper is the son of Cathy and Arnold Ellis. A graduate from Lynn Classical in 2010, he went on to get his bachelor's degree in English from Salem State University in 2017. During that time, Christopher began his career in the funeral service profession back in 2015 with the Murphy Funeral Home, working part-time as an assistant. After working a few months there, he went on to pursue his degree in Funeral Service from Mt. Ita College in 2019 and was licensed in October of that year. After a short time, Christopher joined the Murphy Funeral Home family again in 2022, where he has been a full-time funeral director since.
Outside of his work, Christopher is an active member of the Essex Lodge of Freemasonry in Salem and the Aleppo Shriners in Wilmington. Having been treated at Boston Children's Hospital for a heart defect, he proudly contributes to the Hospital continuously. Christopher is also an avid Boston Sports fan, especially for the Bruins. In his free time, he likes to spend it skating on the ice and spend time with close friends and family.
Francis J. Murphy, Jr.
Type A Licensed Apprentice Embalmer
Francis J. Murphy Jr. is a licensed apprentice and represents the fifth generation in the Murphy family to be a part of the Murphy Funeral Home.
Francis is the son of Maura (Clarke) and the late Francis J. Murphy Sr. A lifelong resident of Salem, Francis went to St. John's Prep before going on to graduate from Salem State University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, before joining the funeral home full-time. He is currently enrolled at North Shore Community College in the Funeral Service Program and is in the process of completing his education. Dedicated to his studies, Francis was inducted into Pi Sigma Eta, the National Honor Society for Funeral Service, in recognition of his excellent academic achievements. Francis is also a member of the Funeral Education Resources Network for Students (FERNS) at NSCC, an organization dedicated to fostering connections and resources for fellow funeral service students both inside and outside of the classroom.
Outside of the office, Francis is an active member of the Salem Rotary Club with fellow community members and sits on the Cemetery Commission for the City of Salem. Francis enjoys partaking in local road races on the North Shore that include the annual Turkey Trot, Festivus 5k, and many others in the North Shore. Having completed the 2022 Boston Marathon for Team End Alzheimer’s, Francis is an active participant with the Alzheimer’s Association in partaking in many of their other events, including the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Married to his wife Sydney (Andrews), they raise their two children together, along with their four-legged companion Lennon.
Francis J. Murphy, Jr.
Type A Licensed Apprentice Embalmer
Francis J. Murphy Jr. is a licensed apprentice and represents the fifth generation in the Murphy family to be a part of the Murphy Funeral Home.
Francis is the son of Maura (Clarke) and the late Francis J. Murphy Sr. A lifelong resident of Salem, Francis went to St. John's Prep before going on to graduate from Salem State University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, before joining the funeral home full-time. He is currently enrolled at North Shore Community College in the Funeral Service Program and is in the process of completing his education. Dedicated to his studies, Francis was inducted into Pi Sigma Eta, the National Honor Society for Funeral Service, in recognition of his excellent academic achievements. Francis is also a member of the Funeral Education Resources Network for Students (FERNS) at NSCC, an organization dedicated to fostering connections and resources for fellow funeral service students both inside and outside of the classroom.
Outside of the office, Francis is an active member of the Salem Rotary Club with fellow community members and sits on the Cemetery Commission for the City of Salem. Francis enjoys partaking in local road races on the North Shore that include the annual Turkey Trot, Festivus 5k, and many others in the North Shore. Having completed the 2022 Boston Marathon for Team End Alzheimer’s, Francis is an active participant with the Alzheimer’s Association in partaking in many of their other events, including the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Married to his wife Sydney (Andrews), they raise their two children together, along with their four-legged companion Lennon.
