After a brief illness, George E. Murphy, Jr. left the arms of his wife on Friday morning to be present in the arms of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He was born September 29, 1957, and left this world May 26, 2017,at the age of 59. He left behind quite a legacy.
George attended Roy Guess Elementary, Austin Junior High School, and graduated from French High School in 1976. After graduation, he went to work for American Bridge, a division of U.S. Steel. He left “the Bridge,” as he called it, in 1985 and went to work in the family business, Murphy’s Upholstery & Refinishing. He enjoyed working with furniture, especially wooden furniture. His handiwork was amazing and he strived for perfection.
George met and married the love of his life, Cathy, in 1979, and they celebrated 37 years of marriage last December. Their marriage was blessed with 2 sons. He loved participating with his boys in 4-H and Little League as well as church activities.
George was known for his love of people. He never met a stranger and it didn’t matter to him if you were the owner of a company or the homeless person on the street. He treated you like you mattered to him. (1 John 4:20-21 - 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.)
A testament to his life is that he showed his family how to LOVE! (Mark 12:31 - 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”)
George’s favorite thing to do was to cook meals and feed people. The more you ate, the more joy he felt. He loved it no matter the number of people. It could be 4 or 400.
Due to his illness, his activities slowed but never stopped. If he could get in his wheelchair and to his truck, he was going and doing.
George is survived by his wife, Cathy; sons, George Edward (Trey) Murphy III, and his wife, Kacy; Brandon Murphy, and his wife, Joy; grandchildren, Lauren, Elli, Fisher, George IV, Archer, Adeline, and Hunter (coming soon), that are truly pieces of his heart; brother, Michael Murphy and his wife, Ruthie; sisters, Sherrie Colligan and her husband, Jimmy; Cindy Cobb and her husband, Darrell; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews that he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Blanche Murphy.
A gathering of Mr. Murphy's family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at Broussard's, Beaumont, with his interment following at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Impact Church, 4450 Crow Road, Beaumont, Texas 77701, or to The Prosthetic Foundation, 5047 Sherri Ann Road, San Antonio, Texas 78233.
