Joe Murphy

Hurchel Joe Murphy of Powderly, Texas, departed this life on March 9, 2024, to join his savior in heaven. Born on October 12, 1940, in Millerton, Oklahoma, Joe was the last of five children born to Hurchel Winston Murphy and Essie Guest Murphy. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Charles, Mike, and Jan, and his sister Bernice. He is survived by his wife, Fredda Murphy; son Justin D. Murphy and wife Jessica Rooks Murphy of Brownwood, Texas; daughter Tracy Mills and husband Ronnie Mills of Idabel; daughter Holly Coffman and husband Todd Coffman of Valliant; grandson Jonathan Murphy, wife Amber Murphy, and great-granddaughter Parker Murphy of Brownwood; grandson Jason Murphy of Brownwood; grandson Zachary Coffman, wife Jamie Coffman, and great-grandsons Brayden and Beau Coffman of Dewey, Oklahoma; and grandson Chad Coffman of Valliant.

Joe graduated from Valliant High School in 1958 and moved to Oklahoma City to work for Lee Way Motor Freight. He firmly believed that hard work, treating people right, and welcoming new opportunities were the keys to success. This would see him work for the Red River Army Depot and the Federal Aviation Administration before becoming the owner of grocery stores in Millerton and Haworth and a motel in Idabel. In 1981, he embarked on a new career in the pipeline industry that eventually led him to establish the Pipeline Group in Midland, Texas. This highly successful company provided right-of-way awareness and emergency response programs across the United States. Upon retiring, he and his wife moved to New Boston, Texas, before settling down in Powderly.

Joe’s love of family led him to devote much time to genealogical research of his Murphy and Guest lineage. His Murphy ancestors included Jeremiah Murphy, who was a Confederate veteran, and Isaac Oakes Sr., who was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. His Guest ancestors included Isaac Guest and John Martin Guest who fought in the Texas War for Independence, which made it possible for Joe to become a member of the Sons of the Texas Republic. Joe enjoyed country music and counted singers Hank Thompson and Wanda Jackson among his friends. He loved the outdoors and was happiest riding his horse or driving his four-wheeler in Colorado, where he and Fredda had a vacation home outside Monte Vista. Nothing gave him more pleasure than sharing his love of the Rocky Mountains by hosting family and friends. He was prone to going off the beaten path and blazing his own trails, sometimes at the consternation of those trying to keep up.

Joe never met a stranger. Anyone he did not know was just a friend whom he had not yet met. Like his brothers Charles, Mike, and Jan, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge, becoming a Mason at the Bokhoma (Oklahoma) Lodge. One of Joe’s proudest moments was when his son Justin became a Mason in the Brownwood Lodge. Joe was also a member of the Scottish Rite and the Shrine and promoted their charitable work providing health care to children. He and Fredda were members of Calvary Church in Midland, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Scottish Rite for Children (https://scottishriteforchildren.org/get-involved) or Shriners Children (https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/).

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the White Family Funeral Chapel with Lawrence Guest officiating. Interment will follow at Wheelock Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.whitefamilyfh.com.

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