Obituary of James Murphy

Services for James Phillip Murphy, 78, Whitehouse, are scheduled for 1:00 pm, Tuesday, March 14, at the First Baptist Church, Whitehouse with the Reverend Ray Davis and Edith Brewer officiating. Burial, with Masonic graveside rites will be in the Pinecrest Cemetery, Troup, under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home, Troup. Mr. Murphy died suddenly, Saturday, March 11, 2006, in a Tyler hospital. He was born March 12, 1927, in Troup, to the late T.N. and Nell Allred Murphy. A resident of Whitehouse for the past 21 years, he was a former longtime resident of Houston and had also lived in Van. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He retired as the District Office Manager for the Houston office of Union Oil of California, in 1984. He was a 32nd degree Mason and was a member of the Henry Marsh Bell Masonic Lodge #1371, Whitehouse. He was also a member of the Dallas Valley Scottish Rite and the Sharon Shrine. He was the past president of the Sharon Shrine R.V. Club and was currently serving as president of the Texas Children's Wheelchair Clinic. Mr. Murphy was a member of the First Baptist Church, Whitehouse, where he was a member of the Open Door Sunday School Class. He married Ruth McAfee in Talco, June 18, 1949. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Ruth McAfee Murphy, Whitehouse; a daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Pat Powell, Spring; a grandson and his wife, Stephen and Rebecca Powell, Spring ; a granddaughter, Michelle Powell, Spring; a great-grandson, Ryan James Powell; two brothers-in-law and their wives, Lee and Jo McAfee and Norman and Jackie McAfee, all of Hawkins. Pallbearers will be members of the Henry Marsh Bell Masonic Lodge #1371, Whitehouse. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Sharon Shrine R.V. Club. The Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Monday, March 13. Memorials, if desired may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103 or to the Building Fund of the First Baptist Church, Whitehouse.