Murphy Cauthron

Mary Murphy Coulter Cauthron, age 89 of Ashdown, Arkansas, passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2025. She was born on March 3, 1936.

She is preceded in death by both parents, Mel Verda Mae and John W. Coulter; her husband, James "Doc" Cauthron; daughter Teri Neal Cauthron; great-grandson, Nathan James Huddleston, and sister, Martha Neal Brunson.

Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Keri Murph Cody and husband Jay, of Ashdown, Arkansas, Peri-Gay Walker and husband Brent, of Little Rock, and her son, Steve Cone and wife Donna of Wilmington, N.C.; grandchildren Kiley Huddleston and husband Jonathan, Kelsey Russell and husband Caleb, Coulter Cody and wife Audra, Paige and Meridyth Walker, and Stephanie Cone; great grandchildren, Henry Huddleston, Allison Huddleston and Watson Cody, along with other beloved relatives and friends.

Murphy was larger than life and was a force to be reckoned with. She lived life boldly and loved completely. She was a beautiful inspiration to her family, friends and students.

Murphy spent over 40 years working and later retiring, as a school teacher for the Ashdown public school system. Every class she taught was taught with great passion, and the love for her students was unconditional and ongoing, far past their graduation. Her impact is immeasurable…she touched and inspired all with whom she encountered. She heard very often from many former students whose lives she greatly inspired -something she always cherished.

Some of Murphy's major passions included art and music. She loved to paint and draw in her spare time, especially with her children and grandchildren. She loved sharing her creativity by helping to coordinate school talent shows and proms. Murphy taught herself how to play the ukulele, a talent she shared with most every student in Ashdown. She taught them a wide variety of songs from "Has Anybody Seen My Gal" to "5 Little Pumpkins".

Above all else, Murphy was an incredibly loving wife and mother. She really didn't have many outside hobbies, as she spent all her free time devoted to her family. While known for being overprotective, she was that way out of her utter and unconditional love. She never missed a performance, a ball game, or occasion where her children were involved. She made sure their family home was always beautiful and had an open arms policy. Everyone was welcomed and taken care of when there.

Murphy will be greatly missed and her lessons will live on through every family member she loved, every student she taught and every person whose life she touched.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Pleasant Manor Nursing home for all their years of great care. We can never thank you all enough.

A celebration of Murphy's life will be at 2:00pm on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Texarkana, Funeral Home-Texas.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be sent to the first United Methodist Church/Impact, 145 E. Commerce Street, Ashdown, AR 71822, to the Nathan James Huddleston Scholarship.

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