Raymond R. Murphy Jr., 76, of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, died on December 30, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is now in the arms of the Jesus who he longed to be with after this life.
He was born on March 7, 1936 in Chattanooga, to the late Raymond R. Murphy and Louisa Ellis Murphy. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathleen Darwin Murphy, whom he loved and cherished.
He graduated from The Baylor School, the University of North Carolina and earned his law degree from the University of Michigan. After law school he joined the law firm of Spears, Moore, Rebman before joining the Miller and Martin firm in 1963. He was became senior partner in the firm concentrating in civil litigation and dispute resolution. He was the president and member of the Board of Governors of the Chattanooga Bar Association, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Chattanooga Bar Foundation. He was listed in the Best Lawyers in America and was also awarded the Ralph H. Kelly Humanitarian Award.
He also served many organizations including Teen Challenge, Inner-city Ministries, Senior Neighbors, and Turning Point Ministries. He also was on the board of Chattanooga Area Law Enforcement Commission and the Chattanooga Resource Foundation, Chattanooga Community Foundation and the Will C. Harris Foundation.
He also was on the organization committee for the incorporation of the City of Lookout Mountain, Georgia and was the first district commissioner of the city. He also served on the volunteer fire department.
He was an elder at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church where he was a member for all his life. His main passion and work was related to relationships, specifically marriage relationships. He taught Sunday school classes, lead Bible studies and wrote a book about building healthy marriage relationships. He also was active in lay renewal ministries for many years.
He took on many hobbies in his life including hunting, wood working, gun and knife collecting. His last project was the building of a Snow Village city that included over two hundred pieces, trains and a ski slope. He loved for his grand kids to visit and enjoy the display.
He was survived by his sister, Joanne Murphy Austin of Los Angeles, his three children, Karen Wilson (John), Kim Mathis (Robbie) and Ryan Murphy (Beth), nine grandchildren, Josh Wilson, Murphy Wilson, John Ryan Wilson, Michelle Smith (Steven), Jessica Acuna, Alvaro Acuna, Ryan Murphy (Stef), Cole Murphy (Brittney), and Becca Murphy and one great-grandson, William August Smith.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church at 11:30 a.m. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 at the Church. Pallbearers will be his six grandsons. The honorary pallbearers will be his fellowship small group of 30 years, Bob Huffaker, Jim Southerland, Frank Brock, Ray Clark, Rodger Guilick.
Wann's Funeral Home is providing arrangements and a private burial will follow a Forrest Hills Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, Teen Challenge of the Mid South, and Hospice of Chattanooga.