Richard Murphree

Don Murphree, 80, of Hillsboro went to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2013, at First Baptist Church in Hillsboro with Rev. Danny Gilliam and Dr. Howard Daniel officiating. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro. Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2013, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.

Don was born in Hillsboro on August 18, 1932 to Ewell and Jewell Murphree. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1950. In 1954, he graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in geology. On October 19, 1951, he married Elizabeth Ann Wimberly.

Don worked for Dowell for several years and later owned a wire line service company. The family lived in Houma, Louisiana as well as Levelland, Snyder and Andrews, Texas. In 1973, they returned to their hometown of Hillsboro, where Don was employed by Certainteed. Through the years, Don continued to work in the oil field as a consultant. During retirement, he and Ann traveled from Florida to Alaska building churches with Volunteer Christian Builders. Don was active in First Baptist Church Hillsboro as a Deacon and member of the Downtown Bible Class. He planned and directed the construction of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel Church, the Hispanic Mission, and was construction liaison for several building projects at First Baptist. He always had a love of traveling and thoroughly treasured the many vacations taken with family and friends.

Don was defined by his love of God, family, church, and friends. He was passionate about his daily prayers and he prayed for his family individually by name every day.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Frances Murphree; daughter, Cynthia Kay Murphree Holland; and son, Ewell Gary Murphree.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Murphree of Hillsboro; daughter, Beverly Ann Gerke and husband, Billy Ray, of Itasca; three grandchildren, Sherry and Harley Davis of Itasca, Andrew and Leah Gerke of Whitney, and Jonathan Gerke of Seattle, Washington, United States Navy; four great-grandchildren, Nolan and Joseph Davis of Itasca and Logan and Lane Warrick of Whitney; sister, Janet Ann Gordon of Mayfield; sister-in-law, Marcheta McClung of Hillsboro; brother-in-law, Bill Wimberly and wife, Ruth, of Denton; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, as well as many close friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 271, Hillsboro, TX 76645.

Friday May 10, 2013 , 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro

Saturday May 11, 2013 , 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church of Hillsboro

Saturday May 11, 2013 at Ridge Park Cemetery