Bruce Lee Murphy

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Bruce Lee Murphy, 90, died Sunday, Oct. 05, 2008, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. Born in Jonesboro to the late Arthur and Bessie Murphy, he graduated from Caraway Central High School in 1937. A longtime farmer in Caraway, he moved to Memphis in 1965, and then relocated to Jonesboro in 1996.

Survivors include his wife, Lorene Wood Murphy, of the home; three daughters, Norma Emison of Jonesboro, Linda Pyland of Caraway and Wanda Wonigar of Horn Lake, Miss.; a son, Keith Murphy of Germantown, Tenn., a daughter-in-law, Freddie Lee Murphy of Caraway; two stepdaughters, Neva Brickell of Jonesboro and Mary Ann Christmas of Paragould; two stepsons, Harold Wood of Jennison, Mich. and Eddie Wood of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Terry Pyland and Lynn Pyland, both of Caraway, Karen Wallace of Monette, Kelly Benson of Jonesboro, Michelle Emery of Caraway and Kara Woodiel of Lake Comorant, Miss.; nine great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Ruby Booth Murphy; a son, Gerald Wayne Murphy; grandson, Lee Pyland, four brothers and three sisters.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 7 at Gregg Funeral Home in Jonesboro with Mike Johnson and Elder John Sawyer III officiating. Burial was in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Terry Pyland, Lynn Pyland, Mike Wallace, Bradley Wallace, Dallas Benson, Kyle Priest, Merritt Emery, Michael Emery and Kenny Woodiel.

The family requests anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider St. Jude's Children's Hospital, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or charity of choice.