Ben Joseph Murphy

Ben was born September 24, 1946, the sixth of eight children, to George Ellis Murphy, Sr. and Edna N. Hillman Murphy. He passed peacefully surrounded by family on January 1, 2026, in Eros, LA.
He attended elementary school at Kilbourne, LA and graduated high school at Oak Grove High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. He was awarded a football scholarship to what is now ULM, University of Louisiana Monroe.
After high school, like many young men of that time, during the Vietnam War, he was drafted into the Army and served a two year enlistment.
On August 20, 1973, Ben married Brenda Sue Frost of West Monroe, LA. They made their home in West Monroe and had 4 daughters, Natalie, Samantha, Kimberly, and Melanie.
Ben was recruited to work for the Monroe Police Department where he rose to the rank of Detective, working in the Metro Narcotics Unit. He later became a farmer which eventually led to his ownership of a long-haul trucking company.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Kimberly; sister Nancy Murphy; sister Leona Murphy Posey; brother George Ellis Murphy, Jr; and brother Michael David Murphy. He is survived by his wife Brenda Murphy, West Monroe; son Tim Stampley, Oak Grove, LA; daughter Natalie Murphy, Eros, LA; daughter Samantha Murphy, Calhoun, LA; daughter Melanie Newton, Calhoun, LA; 9 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; sister, Doris Haley, Kilbourne, LA; sister Elizabeth Shaffer, Broken Arrow, OK; and sister Mary Erwin (Ron), Calhoun, LA. Additionally, he is survived by 8 nieces and 1 nephew. Ben has a large extended family of many cousins and one aunt who survive him.
There was a private graveside service January 5, 2026, at Kilpatrick's Serenity Gardens, 8729 West Cypress St, West Monroe, LA, with full military honors. Service under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe, LA.