Paul C. Murphey

Paul C. Murphey III, 53, of Meridian, passed away suddenly on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 5, 2006, in a Grapevine hospital. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, in the Meridian First United Methodist Church with the Rev. William Sterling and the Rev. Mike Alexander officiating. Burial will be in the Meridian Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, in the Lawson Funeral Home Chapel in Meridian. Paul was born July 29, 1953, in Meridian. He was a son of the late Paul C. Murphey Jr. and Sue Carleton Brooks Murphey. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1971 and enrolled at Texas A&M University, where he graduated in 1975 with a degree in animal science. On June 4, 1977, he was united in marriage to Jane Stockard in Meridian. Paul worked from 1977 to 1982 with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in Fort Bend and Hood counties. He returned to Meridian in May of 1982 to manage the family owned Circle M Ranch, his true passion. Paul served on the Meridian School Board from 1985 to 2000. He also served on the Bosque County Appraisal Review Board for several years. Paul was a member of the American Hereford Association, Texas Hereford Association, Texas & Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, Meridian First United Methodist Church, Bosque County A&M Club and a past member of the Lions Club. He will be remembered as a loving husband and a steadfast father with a compassionate heart for all animals. Survivors include wife, Jane Stockard Murphey of Meridian; daughter, Ann Murphey Blair and husband, Jason of Flower Mound; sons, Robert Edward Murphey of Houston, Michael Carleton Murphey and fiancee, Emily Silverman of College Station, and David Ray Murphey of Meridian; sister, Elizabeth Milam of Waco; nieces, MaryBeth Milam of Hoover, Ala., and Brooks Milam of Waco; and other relatives and a host of friends. Memorials may be made to the Texas Hereford Assn. Foundation, 4609 Airport Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas 76117, or the Meridian First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 334, Meridian, Texas 76665. Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian July 29, 1953 -August 5, 2006