BRUCE MURPHY, 98, died at home on Feb. 24,
2015 in Melrose, NM after a short illness.
He was born in 1916 in Knapp, TX and grew
up nearby with his brothers Lloyd Murphy
(RHS-1934), Glen Murphy (RHS-1937) & Brent
Murphy. His mother and father ranched some
30 miles west of Snyder in the mesquite
country along the Texas Colorado River.
Because of hard times in the 30s and to
obtain a better education, Bruce spent
much of his high school time living with
his uncle at Ranger, TX near Ft. Worth in
the Class of 1934. He entered the U.S.
Naval Academy just prior to the war but
ended up in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a
pilot during WWII. Initially, he was a
glider pilot but then moved on to flying
B-24's, B-17's, B-25's & C-49 transports
throughout the U.S. during the War.
He and Helen were married in Albuquerque
in 1942; and, after the War, they moved
back to Snyder where Bruce worked in the
oil field as a geologist. Their son Michael
was born in 1944. Bruce, Helen and Michael
moved to their ranch at House, NM in 1949
and then to Melrose in 1959. The family
still owns the ranch at House, and Bruce
continued to operate it along with his
son Michael and Jimmy Snipes of House.
Bruce enjoyed family reunions in Texas,
friends in Melrose and House, cutting
wood, walking and working cattle.
Bruce and Helen were able to acquire a
mountain property in the middle of the
Santa Fe National Forest near Las Vegas,
NM where they spent many good summers
in their retirement. Many world situations
were debated there, but no world problems
were resolved. The family still enjoys
summers at Murphy Meadows, as the property
came to be known over the years. Bruce
lost Helen in 2012 after 70 years of marriage.
He is survived by brother, Brent and wife
Pat Murphy of Snyder, TX; son, Michael &
wife Melissa of Albuquerque; granddaughter,
Patricia Murphy; great-grandson, Bruce
Murphy Rehn; two step-grandchildren,
Heather Smartt and Heidi Smartt; two
step-great-grandsons, Kyan and Liam,
and nieces, nephews & cousins, mostly
in West Texas.