Thanksgiving Scrapbook Pages

Brett's Thanksgiving digital scrapbook page



Ryan's Thanksgiving digital scrapbook page



Savannah's digital scrapbook page

Thanksgiving 2012

We always have Thanksgiving day with Stan's family and my family on Saturday after Thanksgiving. We met at Peggy's for a late lunch. I made my usual broccoli salad & a cheeseball. Stan made mulled cider. We had ham, turkey, dressing, gravy, Peggy's rice dish, macaroni and cheese, green beans, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, congealed salad. Katie made a great dip too. Luke brought banana pudding, Chelsea brought handmade sweet potato pie and apple pie. All 3 of the desserts were to die for. I could have eaten that whole sweet potato pie all by myself. We were so stuffed! The weather was beautiful and warm so, after lunch, we all went outside. We got some good family photos. Last year, in November, Evans had fallen 25' from a toppled scissor lift. He was seriously injured but he survived and he has thrived. He broke both ankles, his elbow, his sternum and some vertebrae in his neck and back. One ankle was so shattered they didn't know if they could put it back together. He went through 4-5 surgeries. But, thank God, he is alive and well today. He still suffers pain but he is able to function and we couldn't be more thankful. The accident brought his former fiance back into his life and they are engaged to be married in June, 2013! They are very happy together and that's what it's all about. Here is Evans and Chelsea.




Our great niece, Savannah, was in the cutest handmade outfit. She even came in wearing the cutest yellow glasses but they didn't stay on too long. Shes such a happy, healthy little girl. She's another reason we have to be grateful this Thanksgiving.





















Kenny, Anna and their family: Evans and Chelsea, Aaron, Logan







Elaine and Ronnie and their family: Luke, Hannah, Savannah, (Jenny, Kyle and the boys couldn't come down for Thanksgiving but we hope they come before Christmas.)



Kyle took this picture of Jenny, Brett and Ryan on Thanksgiving.


Kathi and Eddie, Katie and Dustin







Stan and I





Peggy and her six children

Front row, Left to right: Stan, Angie, Peggy and Kathi
Back row, Left to right: Ronnie, Kenny, Donnie




Chelsea and Katie



Donnie and Kenny



Peggy and all the grandchildren that were there. We were missing Joshua, Jacob, Jenny, Kyle, Brett and Ryan

Back row, Left to right: Aaron, Evans, Dustin, Luke holding Savannah
Front row, Left to right: Logan, Chelsea, Peggy, Katie, Hannah


Everyone in the family




Dustin took the photo so he wasn't in it and we were missing Joshua, Jacob, Jenny, Kyle, Brett and Ryan.


Four generations: Peggy, her son, Ronnie, grandson, Luke, and great grandchild, Savannah.



Peggy with Angie and Donnie




Peggy read some scripture and Stan prayed before lunch.




Playing outside in the beautiful, warm weather.

Thrifty Thursday - Saving On Paper

I have learned over the last year that I don't necessarily have to save all my data in hard copy form. I don't have to have paper files of all my sources. This saves me money on printing costs and saves me from having file cabinets and binders full of paper.

I used to make copies of things to mail genealogy contacts. For instance, the Rees Genealogy newsletters came out in the late 1970's and early 1980's. My mother subscribed to them and I have her old copies. They are hard to find and the original people who put them together are probably sick and tired of having to answer questions, much less, making copies for everyone. But I scanned mine in and can share info via emails or on my blog.


Now, if someone contacts me and asks me about a certain someone, I can direct them to a post on my blog or reply to their email with an attached file. Saves me time, money and typing.

I keep all my database files on my computer with 2 separate backups on external hard drives. When I finish or come to a stopping place on a line, I can publish it on my blog and/or Ancestry.com so that it's available to me and to others (who may have additional information). So I don't really need to print it out unless I want to publish a book (which I plan to do one day). If I have it on my blog, it's available for others so others who contact me, all I have to do is share the link. I don't have to re-type, copy and paste or anything. For an example of a blog post I did on someone check out SOPHIA BARNES.

As far as hard copies of sources. I can take my digital camera with me to the library, cemetery, church, etc. I take photos of gravestones, churches, home places, pages in books, or of the microfilm screen to get copies. You might want to make more than one photo just in case you get a bad picture. I don't have to print them out unless I want to. If you don't trust your camera for documents, you can pay for copies at the library but scan them in once you are home. Once it's in your computer, you can use software to add notes to it and save it digitally. When you learn how, use tags and captions to insure you don't forget where you took the photo or how it's pertinent to your line. Be sure to save in an organized way so you don't lose it in the mass of files you will accrue.


On this one I labelled it directly on the photo using Adobe Photoshop Elements. I pt the inscription, how they are linked to my line and where it is, even to GPS coordinates. I also use Picasa, Adobe or Windows Live Photo Gallery to add tags and captions (they don't show on your photo but are included in your photo file information and you can search and organize by the tags).




On this one I circled the pertinent data, as well as, added the source information at the top so I could locate it again if I needed to. Ancestry.com allows you to save photos of documents that you find on their website like this. You save it to your computer and then I use Adobe Photoshop Elements to add my notes.



In this case, I saved the photo with and without the name labels on there. Since it's a group and everyone is bunched together you really lose the effect of the picture with the labels. But I have one with the labels and one without the labels.
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This one is labelled directly on the photo (it's in one corner and not messing up the content of the photo). I put the name of the church, GPS coordinates (I use Google maps for finding these), and the date I took the photo.



This was a home place that I labelled directly on the photo with who's house it was and where it is located.


For ideas on how to organize your computer so that your digital files are easily accessible, read my post on ELECTRONIC OR DIGITAL ORGANIZING.

So spend a little on technology, be organized (you have to be to be, to be a genealogist, can I get an AMEN?), and go digital. You will save tons on paper and copy expenses.

Military Monday - Audie Leon Murphy

Military Monday is a blogging prompt from Geneabloggers. We all have ancestors who have served in the military. Military Monday is a place to post their images, stories and records of their service in various branches of the military. Military Monday is an ongoing series by Cindy at Everything’s Relative – Researching Your Family History.

Nimrod Lunsford, Sr. married Elizabeth Wyatt (his 1st wife)and they had
...Michael Lunsford, Sr. who married Unknown and they had
......Nimrod Lunsford who married Adaline Unknown and they had
.........Mary Jane Lunsford who married Curtis Gill and they had
............Sarah Elizabeth Gill who married Jefferson Davis Killian and they had
...............Josie Bell Killian who married Emmett Berry Murphy and they had
..................Audie Leon Murphy who married Pamela Opal Lee

My ancestor was Nimrod Lunsford, Sr. married toRebecca Foster (his 3rd wife) and they had
....Nimrod Lunsford, Jr. who married Mary Mavis Stafford and they had
......Nancy Rebecca Lunsford who married William Hanes Reese and they had
.........Bailey Bright Reese who married Lillian Vianna Conner and they had
............William Wilford Reese who married Geneva Margaret Lamb and they had
...............Eleanor Elaine Reese who married William Avery Huneycutt and they had
..................ME!


That means that I am the 5th cousin of Audie Murphy, World War II's most decorated soldier and a movie star.

In working on my genealogy I found this out and worked on Audie Leon Murphy's family tree.



Sarah Elizabeth Gill Killian (Audie's maternal grandmother)



Jefferson Davis Killian (Audie's maternal grandfather)



Jefferson Davis Killian and Sara Elizabeth Gill Killian and their family. Josie Bell Killian Murphy (Audie's mother) is in this photo.



Josie Bell Killian Murphy (Audie's mother)



Emmett Berry Murphy (Audie's father)



Emmett Berry Murphy, Josie Bell Killian Murphy with Audie Murphy behind them.

Emmett Berry Murphy (DOB 2/20/1886 in Georgetown, Williamson County, TX to George W. Murphy and Virginia Devore Berry; DOD 8/20/1976 in Hinton Nursing Home, Farmersville, Collin County, TX) married Josie Bell Killiann (DOB 5/23/1891 in Farmersville, Collin County, TX to Jefferson Davis Killian and Sara Elizabeth Gill; DOD 5/23/1941 in Farmersville, Collin County, TX) on 1/19/1908 in Farmersville, Collin County, TX.

They had 12 children:
1) Elizabeth Corine Murphy (DOB 5/5/1910 in Kingston, Hunt County, TX; DOD 3/28/1980 in Dallas, Collin County, TX) married Benjamin Poland Burns (DOB 12/24/1908 in Farmersville, Collin County, TX; DOD 1/10/1981 in Grand Prairie, Tarrant County, TX).

2) Charles Emmett Murphy, aka Buck Murphy and Charlie Murphy (DOB 4/23/1912 in Celeste,Hunt County, TX; DOD 5/10/1991 in Collin County, TX) married Billie Juan Davis (DOB 11/19/1934 in TX; DOD 9/23/1996 in San Bernardino, CA)

3) Vernon C. Murphy, (DOB 2/14/1916 in Hunt County, TX; DOD 2/17/1920 in Hunt County, TX of pneumonia due to influenza)

4) Ariel June Murphy (DOB 3/30/1919 in Collin County, TX: DOD 10/18/2002 in Floydada, Floyd County, TX) married Benjamin Franklin Van Cleve, aka Ben VanCleve (DOB 9/27/1894 in Conway, AR; DOD 4/26/1981 in Floydada, Floyd County, TX) on 12/1/1966 in Floyd County, TX.

5) Virginia Oneta Murphy, aka Jinnie Murphy (DOB 2/11/1918 in Hunt County, TX; DOD 10/1919 in Hunt County, TX).

6) J.W. Murphy (DOB About 1920; DOD About 1920, stillborn)

7) Audie Leon Murphy (DOB 6/20/1925* in Kingston, Hunt County, TX; DOD 5/28/1971 in Galax, VA) married 1st Dixie Wanda Hendrix Murphy Stack Lamont (DOB 11/3/1928 in Jacksonville; DOD 2/1/1981 in Burbank, Los Angeles County, CA) on 2/8/1949. They divorced in 1951. He married 2nd Pamela Opal Lee (DOB 10/7/1923 in KS; DOD 4/8/20120 in Los Angeles County, CA) in 1951. They had Terrence Michael Murphy, aka Terry, and James Shannon Murphy, aka Skipper.

8) Richard Houston Murphy, aka Dick Murphy (DOB 2/20/1926 in Hunt County, TX; DOD 11/18/1956 in Los Angeles County, CA) married Christine Burnett.

9) Eugene Porter Murphy (DOB 7/31/1928 in Hunt County, TX; DOD 12/24/2002 in Jacksonville, Cherokee County, TX) married Lucille Medley.

10) Reta Fay Murphy (according to her birth certificate she was named Reta Fay Murphy but she was later known as Verda Nadine Murphy) (DOB 2/28/1931 in Hunt County, TX; DOD ? in ? ) married 1st Waddell O. Murphy and 2nd Kenneth Lokey, aka Ken Lokey.

11) Willa Beatrice Murphy, aka Billie Murphy (DOB 9/4/1933 in Celeste, Hunt County, TX; DOD 3/6/2004 in Marietta, Cass County, TX) married John Thomas Bonner.

12) Joe Preston Murphy (DOB 2/19/1935 in Hunt County, TX; DOD 1/29/1968 in Collin County, TX) married Donna Lee Constant (DOB 7/5/1940 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY; DOD 10/29/1977 in Dora, Ozark County, MO). They had Josie Belle Murphy. Joe was a state patrolman. He was killed in a car accident as he responded to a call and his vehicle was hit by a grain truck making a u turn.


*Audie Murphy's date of birth is in dispute. He wanted to join the military during WWII but he was too young. He and his oldest sister, Elizabeth Corine Murphy Burns, somehow conspired to change his date of birth in order to adjust his age so he could join. We don't know whether he was born in 1924, 1925 or 1926 except by extrapolation. The U.S. Army records show him as being born 6/20/1924 but he and his sister later said they had made that up so he could join the military. He continued to use that date in his autobiography, To "Hell And Back". Since this was written after his army stint, no one knows why he kept up the subterfuge unless it was so he wouldn't lose military benefits. He had a brother, Richard "Dick" Houston Murphy, was born 2/20/1926 (as proved by his birth record) so Audie couldn't have been born in 1926. If he was actually born in 1924, he would have been old enough and there wouldn't have been a reason to lie. But they both said they lied. So if he wasn't born in 1924 and he wasn't born in 1926, that leaves 1925. But there is quite a debate about it.

A son of poor Texas sharecroppers, Audi had deep ancestral roots in Monroe County, Tennessee. Audie attended elementary school in Celeste until his father abandoned the family in 1936. Alone, in the middle of the Great Depression, and with 9 children to feed, Josie needed help. Audie dropped out in the fifth grade to help support his family. He worked for one dollar per day, plowing and picking cotton on any farm that would hire him. Murphy became very skilled with a rifle, hunting small game like squirrels, rabbits, and birds to help feed the family. One of his favorite hunting companions was neighbor Dial Henley. When Henley commented that Murphy never missed what he shot at, Murphy replied, "Well, Dial, if I don't hit what I shoot at, my family won't eat today." On May 23, 1941, his mother died, the month before Audie's 17th birthday. He worked at a combination general store, garage and gas station in Greenville. Then, boarded out, he worked in a radio repair shop. Later that year, with the approval of his older, married sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Corinne Burns, who was unable to help, Murphy placed his three youngest siblings in an orphanage to ensure their care. He reclaimed them after World War II.






Murphy had long dreamed of joining the military. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Murphy tried to enlist in the military, but the services rejected him because he was underage and only about 5' 5 and 110 pounds. In June 1942, shortly after what he and his sister Corrine believed was his 17th birthday, Corrine adjusted his birth date so he appeared to be 18 and legally able to enlist. Murphy tried once again to enlist, but was declined by both the Marines and Army paratroopers as too short and underweight. The Navy also turned him down for being underweight. The United States Army finally accepted him and he was inducted at Greenville and sent to Camp Wolters, Texas for basic training. During a session of close order drill, he passed out. His company commander tried to have him transferred to a cook and bakers' school but Murphy insisted on becoming a combat soldier, and after 13 weeks of basic training, he was sent to Fort Meade, Maryland for advanced infantry training.

Audie is best known as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II. He was honored with the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery in combat that can be given to any individual in the USA. World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, The Legion of Merit, The Purple Heart, the Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster and the Bronze Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster, as well as numerous Campaign Medals. Probably the most famous American field combat soldier to emerge from World War II. Served in Europe in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant of Company B 1 5th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery near Holtzwihr, France, on January 26, 1945. His Citation reads: “2nd Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2nd Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2nd Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2nd Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machinegun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2nd Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2nd Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective”. His Medal was issued on August 9, 1945. His war-time efforts won him promotions up to Major, US Army. 



Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue ("Most Decorated Soldier"/cover photo), he became one of the most famous American soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war. After seeing the young hero on the cover of Life magazine, actor James Cagney invited Murphy to Hollywood in September 1945.

After returning home from World War II, Murphy bought a house in Farmersville, Texas for his oldest sister Corrine, her husband Poland Burns, and their three children. His three youngest siblings, Nadine, Billie, and Joe, had been living in an orphanage since Murphy's mother's death, He intended that they would be able to live with Corrine and Poland. However, six children under one roof proved difficult for Corrine and Poland to parent, and Murphy took his siblings to live with him. With his budding acting career stalling, he had a hard time making enough money to take care of himself and his younger siblings. Finally his oldest brother, Murphy, and his wife agreed to take Nadine. Audie approached a friend, James "Skipper" Cherry, a Dallas theater owner who was involved with the Variety Clubs International Boy's Ranch, a 4,800 acres ranch near Copperas Cove, Texas. He arranged for Joe to live at the Boy's Ranch. Joe was very happy there and Murphy was able to frequently visit his brother as well as his friend Cherry.

In 1946, Audie Murphy saw Dixie Hendrix on the cover of Coronet magazine and arranged to meet her. The two were married on February 8, 1949, making the film Sierra (1950) together. But the marriage lasted less than a year and their divorce was final on 4/15/1950. It may have been because of his PTS. She claimed that he would have nightmares and slept with a pistol under his pillow. One time he held a pistol on her after one of his nightmares. He married an airline stewardess, Pamela Opal Lee, in 1951
in Hollywood where he eventually became a well-known actor and starred in 44 feature films. His 1949 autobiography "To Hell and Back" was a best seller. Murphy starred as himself in the 1955 film version which held the record as Universal's highest grossing picture until 1975 when it was finally surpassed by Jaws.

Audie Murphy wrote some poetry and was quite successful as a songwriter. So in addition to acting, Murphy also became successful as a country music songwriter. He teamed up with musicians and composers including Guy Mitchell, Jimmy Bryant, Scott Turner, Coy Ziegler, Ray and Terri Eddlemon. Murphy's songs were recorded and released by well-known artists including Dean Martin, Eddy Arnold, Charley Pride, Jimmy Bryant, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Wallace, Roy Clark, and Harry Nilsson. His two biggest hits were "Shutters and Boards" and "When the Wind Blows in Chicago".

Murphy was reportedly plagued throughout his life by insomnia, bouts of depression, and nightmares related to his numerous battles. When Murphy did sleep it was with a loaded pistol under his pillow. For a time during the mid-1960s, he became dependent on doctor-prescribed sleeping pills called Placidyl. When he recognized that he had become addicted to the drug, he locked himself in a motel room where he took himself off the pills, going through withdrawal for a week. In a effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, Audie Murphy spoke out candidly about his personal problems with PTS, then known as "Battle Fatigue".

Murphy became a successful actor, rancher, and businessman, breeding and raising Quarter Horses even having interests in such great horses as "Depth Charge." He owned ranches in Texas, Tucson, Arizona and Menifee, California.

Audie Murphy died in a private plane crash near Galax, VA 28 May 1971. The private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia, 20 miles west of Roanoke, Virginia in conditions of rain, clouds/fog and zero visibility. The pilot and four other passengers were also killed. The aircraft was a twin engine Aero Commander 680 flown by a pilot who had private-pilot license and a reported 8,000 hours of flying time, but who held no instrument rating. The aircraft was recovered on May 31, 1971. In 1975 a court awarded Murphy's widow and two children $2.5 million in damages due to the accident

He died broke having squandered millions of dollars on gambling, bad investments and, yes, other women. "Even with the adultery and desertion at the end, he always remained my hero," Pam said. She went from a comfortable ranch-style home in Van Nuys, where she raised two sons to a small apartment - taking a clerk's job at the nearby VA to support herself and start paying off her faded movie star husband's debts.

He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. His grave site is the second most visited grave site, the most visited being that of President Kennedy.


1920 U.S. Census of Greenville, Hunt County, Texas; Roll: T625_1820; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 127; Image: 368, Lines 98-100 next page Lines 1-3, "Ernest Murphy" (sic, it looks like "Emitt Murphy" but Ancestry.com has him indexed as "Ernest Murphy")
Ernest Murphy, Head, Rents home, M(ale), W(hite), 38 yrs old (DOB 1882), Married, Can read and write, Born in TX, Both parents born in U.S., Laborer public
Josie Murphy, Wife, F, W, 28 yrs old (DOB 1892), Married, Can read and write, Born in TX, Both parents born in TN
Elizabeth Murphy, Daughter, F, W, 9 yrs old (DOB 1911), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX
Charlie Murphy, Son, M, W, 7 yrs old (DOB 1913), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX
Vernon Murphy, Son, M, W, 3 yrs 9/12 mos old (DOB 4/1916), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX
Mildred Murphy (sic, must be Ariel June Murphy), Daughter, F, W, 9/12 mos old (DOB 4/1919), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX

1930 U.S. Census of Precinct 2, Hunt County, Texas; Roll: 2359; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 15; Image: 991.0; FHL microfilm: 2342093, Lines 89-97, "Emmitt Murphy" sic
Emmitt Murphy, Head, Rents farm, M(ale), W(hite), 41 yrs old (DOB 1889), Married at age 20 yrs old, Can read and write, Born in TX, Both parents born in TX, Farmer of general farm
Josie Murphy, Wife, F, W, 38 yrs old (DOB 1892), Married at age 16 yrs old (DOM 1912), Can read and write, Born in TX, Both parents born in TX
Corine Murphy (sic), Daughter, F, W, 19 yrs old (DOB 1911), Single, Can read and write, Born in TX, Both parents born in TX, Laborer general farm
Charlie Murphy, Son, M, W, 17 yrs old (DOB 1913), Single, Can read and write, Born in TX, Both parents born in TX, Laborer general farm
June Murphy, Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1919), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX
Audie Murphy, Son, M, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1924), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX
Richard Murphy, Son, M, W, 4 yrs 3 mos old (DOB 1926), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX
Eugene Murphy, Son, M, W, 1 yr 9/12 mos old (DOB 1928), Born in TX, Both parents born in TX

1940 U.S. Census of Washington, Greenville, Hunt County, Texas; Roll: T627_4071; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 116-4, Lines 34-40, "Emmitt Murphy" (sic, Emmett Berry Murphy)
Emmitt Murphy, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 48 yrs old (DOB 1892), Married, 0 years in school, Born in TX, Lived in Celeste, Hunt County, TX in 1935, No occupation, Income $120
Josie Murphy, Wife, F, W, 48 yrs old (DOB 1892), Married, Attended 3 yrs in school, Born in TX, Lived in Celeste, Hunt County, TX in 1935, No occupation, Income $120
Richard Murphy, Son, M, W, 14 yrs old (DOB 1926), Single, Not attending school, Attended 3 yrs in school, Born in TX, Lived in Celeste, Hunt County, TX in 1935
Eugine Murphy (sic), Son, M, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1929), Single, Not attending school, Attended 1 yr in school, Born in TX, Lived in Celeste, Hunt County, TX in 1935
Veda Murphy, Daughter, F, W, 9 yrs old (DOB 1931), Not attending school, Attended 3 yrs in school, Born in TX, Lived in Celeste, Hunt County, TX in 1935
Billie Murphy, Daughter, F, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1934), Not attending school, Born in TX, Lived in Celeste, Hunt County, TX in 1935
Jo Murphy, Son, M, W, 5 yrs old (DOB 1935), Lived in Celeste, Hunt County, TX in 1935

I didn't find Audie Murphy in the 1940 U.S. Census.

Texas Death Certificate #73836, Emmitt B. Murphy (sic), DOD 9/20/1976 at 3:15am, Hinton Nursing Home, Farmersville, Collin County, TX (lived there 3 yrs), DOB 2/20/1886 in TX, Widowed, Retired Farmer, Father: G.W. Murphy, Mother: Virginia Berry, Informant: Corinne Burns (daughter), Burial Ridgeview Memorial Park

Texas Death Index, 1903-2000, Emmitt Murphy, DOD 9/20/1976 in Collin County, TX

Texas Death Certificate #21565, Josie Murphy, DOD 5/23/1941 at 8:15pm in Farmersville, Collin County, TX, DOB 5/23/1891 in Farmersville, Collin County, TX, Married, Housewife, Father Jeff D. Killian born in TN, Mother Sarah Gill born in TN, Informant Mrs Poland Burns, Farmersville, TX, Cause of death: Carditis and Pneumonia, Buried 5/24/1941 in Farmersville.

Social Security Death Index,
Name: Audie Murphy
SSN: 459-28-6632
Born: 20 Jun 1924
Died: May 1971
State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (Before 1951)

Obituary for Pamela Opal Lee Murphy, Published in the Los Angeles Times on April 15, 2010.
Pamela Murphy died peacefully at her home in Canoga Park on April 8, 2010. She was the widow of the most decorated WWII hero and actor, Audie Murphy, and established her own distinctive thirty-five-year career working as a patient liaison at the Sepulveda Veteran's Administration Hospital, treating every veteran who visited the facility as if they were a VIP. She remained working full time at the VA until 2007 when she was eighty-seven. Any soldier or Marine who came into the hospital got the same special treatment from her. She would walk the hallways with her clipboard in hand making sure her boys got to see the specialist they needed. If they didn't, watch out. Her boys weren't Medal of Honor recipients or movie stars like Audie, but that didn't matter to Pam. They had served their country. That was good enough for her. She never called a veteran by his first name. It was always "Mister." Respect came with the job. "Nobody could cut through VA red tape faster than Mrs. Murphy," said veteran Stephen Sherman, speaking for thousands of veterans she befriended over the years. "Many times I watched her march a veteran who had been waiting more than an hour right into the doctor's office. She was even reprimanded a few times, but it didn't matter to Mrs. Murphy. "Only her boys mattered. She was our angel." Audie Murphy died broke in a plane crash in 1971, squandering millions of dollars on gambling, bad investments, and yes, other women. "Even with the adultery and desertion at the end, he always remained my hero," Pam told me. She went from a comfortable ranch-style home in Van Nuys, where she raised two sons to a small apartment - taking a clerk's job at the nearby VA to support herself and start paying off her faded movie star husband's debts. At first, no one knew who she was. Soon, though, word spread through the VA that the nice woman with the clipboard was Audie Murphy's widow. It was like saying General Patton had just walked in the front door. Men with tears in their eyes walked up to her and gave her a hug. "Thank you," they said, over and over. The first couple of years, I think the hugs were more for Audie's memory as a war hero. The last thirty years, they were for Pam. One year I asked her to be the focus of a Veteran's Day column for all the work she had done. Pam just shook her head no. "Honor them, not me," she said, pointing to a group of veterans down the hallway. "They're the ones who deserve it." The vets disagreed. Mrs. Murphy deserved the accolades, they said. Incredibly, in 2002, Pam's job was going to be eliminated in budget cuts. She was considered "excess staff." "I don't think helping cut down on veterans' complaints and showing them the respect they deserve, should be considered excess staff," she told me. Neither did the veterans. They went ballistic, holding a rally for her outside the VA gates. Pretty soon, word came down from the top of the VA. Pam Murphy was no longer considered "excess staff." She is survived by sons, Terry and James. Funeral Services will be held in the Chapel at Forest Lawn (Hollywood Hills) on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.

The obituary of Willa "Billie" Beatrice Murphy Bonner, March 10, 2004, The Greenville Herald Banner
We mourn the loss of Mrs. Billie Bea Murphy Bonner (Bea), who passed away unexpectedly on March 6, 2004. She was born on September 4, 1933, in Celeste to Emmett Murphy and Josie Bell Killian Murphy. She was a member of the Oak Ridge Baptist Church. She is survived by her son, Dale Bonner and wife, Erin Bonner of Dallas and sister, Nadine Lokey and husband Kenneth Lokey of Farmersville. She was preceded in death by her sisters, June Van Cleve, Corine Burns, and Onita Murphy and brothers, Buck Murphy, Gene Murphy, Audie Leon Murphy, Dick Murphy, Vernon Murphy, Joe Murphy, J. W. Murphy, and Bud Murphy. Her difficult childhood (she grew up in an orphanage), and the adversity she faced during the depression years did not change her kind and generous personality. For Bea, strangers were friends she had not yet met. After working for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for thirty-five years, she went back to her small town roots. Her very strong, down-to-earth Texas work ethic did not allow her to sit idle, however; and she continued working on a part-time basis as a US Post employee until recently. Bea enjoyed music and southwest history, but the people in her life were her passion. Her son and daughter-in-law hung the moon; her sister Nadine and deceased siblings she loved immensely; and her two dogs "Cayenne" and "Nutmeg" were the light of her life. She showed her friends and family love on a daily basis through her deeds and not just through words. Her heart was simply larger than Texas. She was loved and respected for who she was, not for the fact that she was Audie Murphy's youngest sister, which many never knew. She was immensely proud of him, however, and of his military career. That pride made Bea a fervent and continuous supporter of our military troops serving our country. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM today at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen with Rev. Stan Fide officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum, PO BOX 347, 600 I-30 East, Greenville, Texas 75403, metro 903-450-4502.

United States Officer Down Memorial
Name: Patrolman Joe Preston Murphy
Department: Frisco Police Department Department
State: Texas
Date of Incident: 29 Jan 1968
Death Location: Texas
End of Watch Date: 29 Jan 1968
Age: 32
Birth Year: abt 1936
Tour of Duty: 8 Months
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Notes: Patrolman Joe Murphy was killed in an automobile accident while responding to assist members of the Celina Police Department. His vehicle collided with a grain truck that was making a U-turn on State Highway 289. Patrolman Murphy had served with the agency for months. He was survived by his wife, child and brother. He was the brother of WWII hero and author Audie Murphy.