Billy Joe Murphy

Billy Joe Murphy MARION-Billy Joe Murphy, 76, of Marion passed away at 8:30 AM, August 24, 2006 at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, August 28, 2006 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend Paul Lee officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Sunday, August 27, 2006 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery, Marion. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois; envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Mr. Murphy was born on August 12, 1930 in Vienna, Illinois to William Carson and Martha Pearl (Needham) Murphy. He married Eva Lou Williams on February 25, 1950 in Williamson County, Illinois; together they shared 56 years of marriage. Survivors include his wife Eva Lou; his children, Donald Edward and Betsy Murphy of Marion, Steven Lynn and Annette Murphy of Rogersville, Missouri, Jennifer Jo Hoyle of the Lake of Egypt, Regina Kay and Fred Blades of Marion, and Bryan Vernell and Teresa Murphy of Thompsonville; grandchildren, Megan and Shawn Sullivan, Matthew Murphy, Eddie Wayne Murphy, Cody Hoyle, Sara Hoyle, Brandon and Lindsay Blades, Amanda and Jeremy Jackson and Kasey Brooke Murphy; great grandchildren, Brock Blades, Bailey Blades, Kaysha Chaney and Aaliyah Blades; sisters and brother-in-law, Shirley and Lewis Lamphere, Fredia Campbell and Alma Smith all of Marion; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, William Murphy and Bobby Gene Murphy. Mr. Murphy was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Marion. He worked as a concrete finisher for 50 years and later worked for Odum Concrete. He was an avid racer and drove a race car for 27 years and he was and avid fisherman.