Eric Ray Murphy

Eric Ray Murphy, 75, of Smyrna, Delaware, passed away on November 12, 2025. He was born on October 13, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri to Ethel M. Murphy and the late James Ray Murphy.
Eric worked in pharmaceuticals in Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri. He later worked at Siegfried pharmaceutical company in Penns Grove, New Jersey, as a supervisor in quality assurance and security. He retired in 2016.
A man of many talents and passions, Eric loved working with his hands and challenging his intellect. While in high school, he built a "cloud chamber"-a device that makes the paths of ionizing radiation visible. He won a scholarship to the University of Missouri for the project. Later in life, he obtained degrees in Biology and Criminal Justice. On many days in his later life, he would spend hours at his workbench concentrating on various projects. Throughout much of his life, starting as a teen, he had a true passion for building, repairing, and flying radio-controlled model planes (especially replicas of World War II planes), and he found great joy in training and coaching others in the art of radio-controlled plane flying. Eric loved riding his Harley motorcycle and attended some of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rallies in Sturgis, South Dakota. He also enjoyed buying old cars and meticulously restoring them to their former glory. An accomplished judoka (he obtained a 2nd degree blackbelt), Eric dedicated himself to the practice of judo. He loved music, and his love of the art could be found in everything from him playing the trumpet (both jazz and classical), enjoying musicals (from "Hamilton," to "Jesus Christ Superstar," to "Evita"), to his dedication to obtaining high quality stereo equipment. While in college, Eric was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Whether fixing things around the house or perfecting his golf swing or practicing his trout fly fishing technique, Eric's quick wit, warmth, and sense of humor touched everyone who knew him.
Eric was preceded in death by his sister, Delores Burch of Memphis, Tennessee and his father, James Ray Murphy.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 26 years, Vanessa Murphy, whom he met while working in Springfield, Missouri; his mother, Ethel Washington of Hartford, Connecticut; his brother, Phillip Washington of Silver Spring, Maryland; his sister, Sandra Inga (Terhemba) of Vernon, Connecticut; three sons, Ryan Murphy (Morgen) of Phoenix, Arizona, Stephen Murphy (Carmen) of Dallas, Texas, and Grant Murphy (Ashleigh) of St. Louis, Missouri; five stepchildren, Camille Downey, Melissa Downey, and La'Brittney Downey, all of Smyrna, Delaware, Travis Downey (Tracy) and Michael Downey both of Springfield, Missouri; four grandchildren, Tallulah Murphy, Hendrix Murphy, Jasper Murphy, and Maven Murphy; two step-grandchildren, Jamilah Daniels and Laila Downey; nephews, Hide Inga (Nisha) of Hartford, Connecticut, Ortiv Inga of Atlanta, Georgia, Dunn Burch (Marsha) of Memphis, Tennessee, and Micah Wild of Phoenix, Arizona; niece, Danielle Burch of Memphis, Tennessee; as well as a host of friends and relatives.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 11 AM to 12 PM in the Faries Funeral Chapel, located at 29 S. Main Street in Smyrna. Funeral services will begin at 12 PM. Burial will be privately held.