Ed Murphy, age 89, of Rome, Georgia, and Franklin, North Carolina, died October 28, 2016.
Mr. Murphy was born in Haralson County, Georgia, to William Linton and Zera Bowman Murphy (both deceased). Mr. Murphy was a devoted husband to his wife and lifetime sweetheart Nell Cowart Murphy (deceased), brother to Olin Murphy (deceased) and Linda Murphy Jarrell of Buchanan, Georgia, father to Ken Murphy (Amy) of Franklin, North Carolina, and grandfather to Chris Murphy (Kelli) of Decatur, Georgia, and Kevin Murphy (Rachel) of Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Murphy graduated from Tallapoosa High School, entered the U.S. Army, and served in post-war Germany. Upon returning to civilian life, Mr. Murphy attended West Georgia College and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Agricultural Education. Early in his career Mr. Murphy taught vocational agriculture at high schools in Georgia and enjoyed serving as an advisor to local FFA chapters. He took a position with International Minerals and Chemicals Corp. in the late 1960s while living in Forsyth, Georgia and worked for IMC in Tifton, Georgia, and Spartanburg, South Carolina. Mr. Murphy retired from IMC in the mid-1980s and returned to his farmland in west Georgia. He loved wood working and hunting and was known for the beautiful flowers that made his wooded yard resemble a park. He and Nell later moved to a retirement community in Rome, Georgia. Mr. Murphy was an active and faithful member of the United Methodist Church.
Private services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The American Heart Association, the First United Methodist Church in Cedartown, Georgia, or the Second Avenue United Methodist Church in Rome, Georgia.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com.