William "Bill" Murphy

William Richard "Bill" Murphy was born on January 30, 1936, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Raymond Leonard and Dorothy Murphy, the middle of three sons, and passed away peacefully on January 3, 2025. Bill grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, attending Catholic schools, and eventually made his way to Texas.

While serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he met the love of his life, Mary Sue Woody, and they were married September 3, 1956. They both grew up on Route 66, and Sue knew when he walked into her life, he was her everything. They were blessed with four sons who were their pride and joy. Sue would say, "he was the President of our business - the CEO of our household". Always a gentleman, Bill was a man of great faith and service.

Bill's professional life took him from accountant to business executive to ultimately becoming a CEO. A good friend encouraged him to come to work for Texas Instruments which eventually led him to receive an offer from Tracor. After a successful career at Tracor, he then rekindled a relationship with a colleague which led him to Austin American Technology, from where he retired.

Bill and Sue retired to their lake house in Sunrise Beach, Texas on Lake LBJ in 1998 and fully embraced the retired lake life. Bill was a devout Catholic, and while there, he was an active member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church where he served as Extraordinary Minister, lector, usher, volunteer, and member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a volunteer firefighter for the Sunrise Beach Volunteer Fire Department where he also served as treasurer and retired as lieutenant. He served in this capacity while being one of the oldest firefighters to serve on calls, a duty he took very seriously. Bill also served on the Sunrise Beach City Council, where he successfully secured the City's water rights.

Bill was an avid golfer and played weekly with his buddies. Not one to turn down an opportunity for public speaking, he would often take the mic and impart words of wisdom. He was a natural-born speaker, and you knew his voice when you heard it.

Bill was a special son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, nephew, and friend. He treasured his family more than anything and was always there for each and every one of them. A role he took great pride in was that of PaPa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom he treasured and loved spending time with. Each year at Christmas, he made sure "Santa" called all his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other young family members so all were able to speak with Santa personally and let him know what they were hoping for that Christmas.

Bill will be remembered and deeply missed by his wife of 68 years, Mary Sue Murphy, his daughter-in-law Mary Lynn Murphy, his son Kevin (Denise), his son Sean, and his son Patrick (Donna), grandchildren Shauna Matteson, Christina Ballard (Frankie), Ryan Murphy (Krystal), Lauren Ridley (Jake), Ryleigh, Remi and Ridley Murphy, Braden and Bryson Murphy, and great- grandchildren Tori and Jase Matteson, Pepper Ballard, Maddox and Gavin Murphy, and Georgia and David Ridley. He is also survived by sister-in-law Betty Ann Rivera, sister-in-law Kathy Murphy, brother-in-law J.B. Woody, sister-in-law Judy Woody, numerous nieces and nephews and the many people he was fortunate enough to call his friends. Bill will be especially missed by his great friend and foxhole buddy, Bud Goodwin (and his wife Donna) and his many beach friends and golf buddies.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law, his brothers Leonard "Sonny" Murphy and James "Jimmy" Murphy, and his oldest son Michael Murphy.



Our family would like to extend our deepest appreciation to his Team Murphy family, friends, and caregivers at Belmont Village in Lakeway and Comforts of Home hospice care for their love and care of PaPa. We further extend our great appreciation to his special caregiver Brandy.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. with the Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 5:00 p.m. at the Harrell Funeral Home - Kingsland, 145 Texas Avenue, Kingsland, TX 78639.

Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 1927 W. Ranch Road 1431, Kingsland, TX 78639.

Bill will be laid to rest at Sandy Mountain Cemetery, 108 Circle Drive, Sunrise Beach Village, TX 78643, in the community he loved so much.

To commemorate Bill's special love of children, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Let us share our stories of Bill so his legacy lives on through beautiful memories.