Murphy

A memorial service for Charlyne Murphy will be held on Saturday, Aug. 5 at the 4th and Bedford Church of Christ in Demmitt, Texas at 1 p.m. A meal for the family and out of towners will be held prior to the service at 11:30 a.m. Visitation will be at the Methodist Church on Friday, Aug. 4, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Charlyne Murphy rose with the morning sun in hospice care in Abilene, Texas on June 18, 2023. In the attendance of her family, she came into this world on April 5,1933, in her parents’ home in the town of West, Texas. She was named Yvonne Virginia Campbell, soon to be called “Charlyne” after her father’s name, Charlie. She loved sunsets and the divine beauty of this world. A favorite for her was the butterfl y, an amazing image of transformation. Like many, her life had times of sorrow, struggle, and pain along with joy and growth.

Charlyne came from a large, loving family. She was the youngest of eight children. She had fond memories of times with her extended family in regular gatherings at their homes and in parks with food, music, and fun.

When she was in High School, Charlyne moved to Dimmitt, Texas. She joined that community where some of her brothers and sisters lived and farmed with their families. There she established lifelong friendships and met and married Bill D. Murphy, after graduation.

They moved to Abilene, Texas to go to Abilene Christian College. They worked various jobs including in the photography studio of Herb and Miriam Roberts in downtown Abilene. This local studio provided black and white and portrait oil color work for Dyess Air Force base, Abilene Christian College, Hardin Simmons, and McMurry College along with many weddings, senior and club pictures, local business portraits, and family photographs.

Children born to them in Abilene were a son, William Andrew (Andy) Murphy IV and a daughter, Marianna. Bill transferred the family to Dallas, Texas for medical training at Southwest Medical School. There the family grew, adding two more daughters, Elizabeth (Liz) Rose and Lawanda Deen. Charlyne continued to raise her family through moves to Fort Worth, Texas and later the Panhandle cities of Littlefield and Dimmitt, while Bill finished his full medical training as a General Practitioner. During this time, Charlyne worked various jobs, including sales at Neiman Marcus. With their return to their hometown of Dimmitt, Bill set up his private medical practice and did rotations in the Castro County Hospital. Charlyne assisted Bill in many ways with his medical practice, including nighttime baby deliveries in his clinic.

In all these stages and cities, Bill and Charlyne were active in church attendance in the local Churches of Christ. They served in both the churches and the communities. Charlyne hosted hospital staff Fish Fry Suppers, Evening Game Parties, and Ice Cream Socials. She taught Bible studies, assisted in workshops, and cared for the poor and families with special health needs.

Following some years of healthcare work, Charlyne moved to Abilene, Texas in the 1970’s, along with Andy, Marianna, and Lawanda. In Abilene, work and attendance to Abilene Christian College (ACC) was possible for Charlyne and her children. Liz came to ACC later and played in the girls’ basketball program there.

Charlyne worked in the registrar’s office at ACC and took courses with Cisco Junior College. She received an associate degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling in 1981. She practiced this counseling service in various ways in Abilene, later in Ruidoso, New Mexico and in Galveston, Texas.

When she returned to Abilene, she worked with MHMR in various capacities until she retired. Charlyne’s own health issues led her to study herbs, vitamins, and natural medicinal procedures. She used this knowledge to help herself and many others through counseling and natural health product sales.

Once retired, Charlyne was able to enjoy travel alongside her children through their various pursuits. Liz’s work in medical missions took Charlyne to experience the people, cultures, and beauty of the countries of Guatemala, Holland, Germany, Croatia, and Bosnia. Lawanda’s sales status with natural health products provided Charlyne a free cruise to Alaska, which she enjoyed greatly with her love of the natural world.

Charlyne received a great heritage of love, service, and relationships from her parents, siblings, and their families through many generations. Her father was Charlie Ritchet Campbell, and mother Lela Viginia Baldwin. Charlyne’s siblings with spouses included D.L. and Corinne Campbell, Truvis and Cleo Campbell, Almeda and Cletus Hoyle, Juanita and Cecil Puckett, Annie and Carlos Calvert, and Sue and Robert Campbell. Of these siblings, only her sister, Mattie Sue Campbell, survives her at age 98, residing with family in Sherman, Texas. Another sibling, a brother known as ‘Baby Bunny’ died of pneumonia at the age of 14 months. Charlyne was preceded in death by those siblings, her mother, her father, and a stepmother, Mary Rose Richardson, and her husband, Bill D. Murphy.

Charlyne physically rests beside her parents and baby brother in Bold Springs Cemetery in West, Texas completing a full circle journey of life. This year, the day of her death on June 18 fell on Father’s Day, so she celebrated this time in a spiritual circle, returning home to The Heavenly Father with her loved ones.

Charlyne leaves a great legacy of her own that includes her four children, 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and two great-greatgrandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Castro County Museum, P.O. Box 602,Dimmitt, TX 79027.