Jimmie Murphy

Jimmie was born in San Antonio on March 29, 1935. He was the youngest of three children born to Frank Lewis Murphy and Fleda Wilcox Murphy. Jimmie moved to Bryan at the age of 6 where he was raised by his aunt, Ollie Wilcox Taylor. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan in 1953 before beginning at Texas A&M and completing one year. He then moved to Colorado to begin working. In 1962, he returned to Bryan with his first wife and sons, Kently and Greg, where he went back to school and graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1965. Soon after graduating, he moved to Gary, Indiana for several years before returning to Bryan once again in 1971. He would go on to receive a Masters degree in Computer Science and PhD in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Jim married JoAnn Jones in 1971 in Bryan. Jim had a big part in helping to raise JoAnn’s two children, Curtis and Holly, as they were growing up. Jim and JoAnn moved to San Antonio in 1976 where Jim served as Vice President of Southern Steel Co. in San Antonio before finishing out his career teaching math, engineering, and computer science for many years and thousands of students at San Antonio College.

Jim and JoAnn spent 20 years in San Antonio, and when they both retired from teaching in 2000, they moved “back home” to College Station to spend more time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. In retirement, they also developed a love for traveling and seeing the world. Their travels took them to 49 states, the Far East, and many European countries. Jim and JoAnn celebrated their 50th anniversary in April of 2021–soon after spending an entire year in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. Jim was a devoted husband to JoAnn and loved her faithfully until his last breath.

Jimmie was a man of great faith, a life-long Methodist, and an active member of Christ Church. He enjoyed fellowship with good friends in the Week by Week Sunday School class, members of his fellowship group, golfing buddies, and his poker group. He also attended many years of monthly meetings with his class of 1953 SFA friends. Jimmie enjoyed photography and was the “official photographer” for many events. He loved capturing moments that would preserve memories. Jim was an avid golfer and a skilled woodworker. He also willingly shared his computer knowledge with anyone needing help. He was a man of many talents and much wisdom.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his aunt Ollie Taylor; his sister Sally Evans; his son Kently Murphy; several nieces and nephews; his step son Curtis Jones; his step daughter Holly Jones Field; and his granddaughter Claire Murphy.

He leaves behind his loving wife JoAnn; his brother Frank Murphy of Bryan and wife Nita; his son Gregory Allen Murphy of Austin and wife Cori; daughter in law Sandra Jones of Houston; son in law Larry Field of College Station. Also surviving him are eight grandchildren: Cole, Charlotte, and Isabel Murphy; Taylor Jones and wife Amy; Angela Field; Christopher Field and wife Stacey; Cameron Field; and Joanna Field; and also seven great grandchildren: Cade and Jaxon Pivonka; Famous, Micah, Beckett, Lincoln, and Theodore Field.