John Franklin Murphy

Service for John Franklin “Frank” Murphy, 90, of Cleburne will be conducted at 10:00 A.M., Monday, August 22, 2016 in the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel. The Reverend Robert C. Burrell, Sr. will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Major Cedric P. Burrell, Reverend Robert C. Burrell, Jr., Charles McVay, Matthew Glen Cave, Cordell Boyd, and Kenny Meadows. Visitation will be from 3-5:00 P.M., Sunday, at the funeral home.

John Franklin “Frank” Murphy went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016 in Cleburne. He was born March 11, 1926 in Meridian, MS to George Dewey, Sr. and Catherine Helen Shrout Murphy. John was saved as a young boy in the 15th Avenue Baptist Church in Meridian, MS and went on to serve as a Deacon and in many other positions. He was currently a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Cleburne.

Mr. Murphy served in the United States Navy during WWII. He then returned to college and graduated from Mississippi State College as a distinguished AFROTC graduate. He then became a Captain in the United States Air Force and served during the Korean Conflict, Vietnam Era, and the Cold War. John was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the VFW. He played the trumpet and at the age of 13 played in the Sons of the American Legion Band and the American Wildcat Band. After WWII he played in the Meridian Civic Concert Band and during college with the famous Maroon Band and the ROTC Band. Frank married Freda Elizabeth Dunnam on July 18, 1987 in Cleburne and she preceded him in death on April 17, 2012.

During his lifetime John worked for Douglas Aircraft Company, the space program, Apollo 4-12, (North American Aviation), and was on the Apollo Launch Team that put the first man on the moon. In 1970, he went to work for Brown and Root, Inc. and retired in 1990. While at Brown and Root he became a member of the Project Management Institute. After retirement he was associated with the Confederate Research Center at Hill College and became Vice President Board of Advisors at the Harold B. Simpson History Complex in Hillsboro in 1994.

Survivors include his companion, Janice Kinard of Cleburne; four children, Melanie Kathleen Murphy, of Napa, CA, John Randolph “Randy” Murphy, April Belinda Murphy Black, and Zoe Elizabeth Murphy Fly, all of Houston and their families; stepson, Charles McVay and wife, Randi, of Centennial, CO.; and stepdaughters, Ann McVay and husband, Bob Martin, of Allen and Ellen McVay and their families. He was also preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, George Dewey Murphy and Jack Everette Murphy.