Gary Murphy, age 81, of Coleman, died Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at his residence.
The family will host a time of visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman. A private interment will be in the Coleman City Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman.
He was born Gary Don Murphy on May 13, 1942, in Ranger, Texas to Jackson Lee Murphy and Annie Lucille Robinson Murphy. Gary grew up in Quinlan at the Boles Home where he attended school and graduated. He then attended Abilene Christian College and East Texas State College. Later in life Gary felt the call to preach. He applied and was accepted to the Brown Trail School of Preaching where he graduated in 2007.
Gary proudly served in the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard. He served on nuclear submarines during Vietnam. Outside of his military career Gary also worked for the Texas Highway Department, the City of Dallas as a Police Officer, and spent many years in Alaska working on the Alyeska Pipeline where he retired in 1997 and moved back to Texas where he called home.
Gary was a Church of Christ minister. He preached in Quinlan and Ranger from 2007 to 2021. He most recently preached when needed at Hillcrest Church of Christ in Coleman. His life was a wonderful model of what walking daily with Christ and serving others should look like.
He married Mary Alice Evans on April 22, 2004, at Lake Tawakoni. He was a loving husband, father, and Gpa.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Murphy of Coleman; one son, Gary Murphy II and Kanittha Namnok of Nikiski, Alaska; one daughter, Johnna Phillips and husband Berry of Coleman; seven grandchildren, Zoe Murphy, Tatiyanna Murphy, April Coco, Shannon Phillips, Cody Phillips, Taylor Phillips and wife Brittney, and Blair Phillips; four great-grandchildren, Kaeden, Kinsler, Harlow, and Archie; one brother, Raymond Eugene Murphy and Carol of Minnesota; two sisters in law Ramona Murphy and Sue Murphy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers, and a special uncle, Frank Robinson.
The family kindly requests no flowers. Memorials are requested to the Brown Trail School of Preaching at 1801 Brown Trail, Bedford, Texas 76021.
We invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with the Murphy family by signing the virtual guestbook on Gary’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Murphy family.
