James F. "Jim" Murphy was born in Victoria, Texas and left us on July 29, 2021 at the age of 85 at his home in Houston, Texas. He is survived by his son, James Murphy Jr, daughter, Elizabeth Nelson with husband John, grandchildren, Kelsey Rose Jones with husband Kendall, Robert Matthew Murphy with Partner Emily Emmons, Katherine Nelson and great grandsons, William and Ben. Brother, William Murphy with wife Dolores, nephew, Michael Murphy, niece, Gena Murphy with great niece Marisa, nephew, Gary Murphy with fiancé Valarie McLean, niece, Claire Murphy and cousin Nancy Weinberg. He was preceded in death by wife, Lucy Ann Murphy, parents, Vera Frances and Johnny Walker Murphy and brothers Johnnie Murphy and Leroy Murphy.

Jim grew up around Beaumont and later Alabama and Tennessee where he graduated high school. Jim followed the lead of other family members and decided to join the Air Force in 1954 where he served in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska. He finished his service and came back to the Beaumont area where he attended Lamar State College of Technology, now Lamar University, until he graduated in 1962.  Jim married Lucy Ann Diehl in 1960. They were married nearly 57 years before her death in 2017.

His work life included time at the General Accounting Office and the Federal Energy Administration, which later merged with the Department of Energy. He was a skilled auditor who received several awards and recognitions by the departments he served. He retired from the Department of Energy in 1992, but work was not the only thing that kept him busy. He was heavily involved with his son in baseball and other sports, with the Boy Scouts during and after his kids grew up, the local Lions Club in Alabama, and of course his churches.

Jim served as a Deacon and in financial capacities at First Baptist Church of Tool, Texas and in Spring as a Deacon and department head at Spring Baptist Church. Both before and after retirement he devoted considerable time and energy to helping other nonprofit organizations with their accounting and tax filings with the government. These ranged from camps to prison ministries. He was a vital part of several organizations and occasionally recognized for his extraordinary effort and devotion.

To all those who knew him, it was clear that Jim truly lived out his faith. With his conversations, his music, and how he spent his time, the peace of Christ was rarely absent from his life. He managed church groups, and relationships with accounting folks of all skill levels in the organizations he supported. It sounds cliché, but nearly everyone who was informed of his condition universally responded the same way that they "loved that man". He was a gentle soul, a devoted husband, a supportive father and grandfather, and without a doubt the spiritual leader of his family.

It is for all of these reasons and more that we celebrate and learn from his life. He was loved by many and will be missed by all. Rest in Peace. Your life was a true blessing to us all.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to

Spring Baptist Church – Youth Programs

Spring Baptist Church – Christian Friends