JoEllen McMeans Murphy

April 22, 1951 – September 21, 2025

JoEllen “Jody” McMeans Murphy, of Houston, Texas passed Sunday, August 21, 2025 at the age of 74. She was born April 22, 1951 in Huntsville, Texas to the late Ray Elston McMeans and Ruth Marie Pelto McMeans.

Jody was raised in Conroe, Texas with her younger brother William “Bill” McMeans, where she enjoyed dance and twirling. She loved driving down the two-lane highway at the time (I-45) to Kemah with her father to sail on his boat, the Chalupa, when she was young. In high school, Jody joined the Conroe Tiger Band playing the alto saxophone where they went on to win the state championship. It was at fifteen she met the love of her life, George Elery Murphy. Together since Sophomore year, they experienced so much together at an early age. From school dances, concerts, learning to drive her Cadillac, going to the drive-in of choice (The Dan-Dee-Dog), and high school graduation together in 1969.

While Elery began studies at Sam Houston after graduation, Jody pursued her love of fashion at a women’s merchandising school. They would wed in March of 1971. Soon after, the city lights were calling and they moved down to Houston, where Elery would continue his studies at The University of Houston, and Jody would go on to work at Sakowitz and in a boutique at the Galleria on opening day. While Elery was in school, Jody became a huge UH sports fan. They loved to go to football and basketball games together and were part of the Phi Slama Jama era. After working retail for several years, Jody went to work for the office of Vogelfang and Cohen, eye doctors in Downtown Houston.

Jody and Elery now decided they were ready for their next chapter, and welcomed their baby girl, Lara Ellen, on the Fourth of July in 1981. In 1986, they purchased their first gift store as a career change for Jody so that she could be more active with Lara’s school years. And active she was - Jody was the “room mother to beat all room mothers”. She was the queen of the pizza party, field days and every holiday celebration. Parents would call the school requesting to be whoever’s class Lara Murphy was in, just so their child could have Jody Murphy as their room mother. She took pride in being able to be involved and have fun with the children. She taught many friends how to drive in the Ford Aerostar mini-van and later Lara’s jeep. She often spoke to missing those days dearly after Lara’s high school graduation.

Jody and Elery’s gift stores would go on to grow to multiple locations including boutiques in hair salons. In the winter of 1994, Elery would come down with cancer which took his life at the young age of 45 in February of 1996. After his death, Jody poured her life and energy into their business and her relationship with Lara. They travelled extensively together far and wide – to Hawaii, Colorado, California, New York, Las Vegas, Mexico, France, Spain and Italy. Jody remained active with Lara and her friends through high school, becoming a trusted parent figure to many. Years later, after the stores would close in the changing economic landscape that came with online shopping, Jody would go on to sell home security systems and find a passion for helping those with hearing disabilities. She became a state-licensed hearing aid fitting specialist in 2008, which required extensive study and training. She loved being able to take the time with her patients and truly help those in need. She would listen to their stories and learn about so many lives well lived, war stories and family histories. This also provided her the opportunity to meet some of her personal icons from the Phi Slama Jama days – Clyde Drexler and Coach Guy Lewis.

Jody remained active and working in hearing aids until the last few years when her heart health took a physical and mental toll and she retired from Costco. She spent her final years enjoying her beloved condo in Tanglewood, rooting for her beloved UH Coogs and visiting with her granddaughter Ava Joyce. Jody loved being a grandmother to her little girl and only wished she had more time to do the things she longed for with Ava, like shopping, returning to Paris and Italy and visiting Disneyland.

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Jody was preceded in death by her parents, Ray Elston and Ruth Marie McMeans; and husband, George Elery Murphy.

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She is survived by her daughter, Lara Murphy Jones; son-in-law, Justin Allen Jones; granddaughter, Ava Joyce Jones; brother, William Victor McMeans.

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A celebration of Jody’s life will be conducted graveside at 11:30 a.m., Friday, September 26, 2025 in the Forest Park Westheimer cemetery. The family will receive friends in true “Murphy fashion” following the service from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Pappasito’s Cantina, 6445 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas 77057.

Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society at https://donate.cancer.org.