Frank Eldrid Murphy

Tahlequah, OK- Funeral services for Frank Eldrid Murphy will be held on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013 at 2:00 pm at Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Dan Hasse officiating. Military honors will be provided by Ft. Sill Army Base in Oklahoma. Musical Selections will be rendered by Chaplain Bill Holcomb. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 from noon until 8:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

Frank Eldrid Murphy was born on June 14th, 1940 in Independence, KS, the son of Paul Tyner and Lorena V. (Williams) Murphy. He attended school and at 18, he enlisted in the US Army, where he proudly served as a Military Policeman at West Point, NY for three years. He was honorably discharged in 1961, and returned, working as a machinist in the civilian world, and worked for a variety of companies, the last being custodian at the Broken Arrow Public Schools. Whenever Frank had some free time, he loved the outdoors with fishing and hunting trips. He was a gifted woodworker and made beautiful jewelry carousels, game boards, and wishing wells. He loved to read a good book, with Clive Culver being a favorite author. He enjoyed a good game of Canasta or watching a western or war movies starring John Wayne. Of all the things he cherished, he cherished his wife and children most. He lost one of his daughters, Phyllis, in early childhood and spent each day telling his daughters how much they were loved and appreciated. On May 31st, 1985, he married Juanita Karen Brumbaugh in Tulsa, OK. This union was blessed with 27 years of married bliss. The word his family used to describe Frank was fabulous! He loved his wife and children and loved any time spent with them. He was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and had a grin that would make any day a little brighter. He was loving and understanding. He adored his grandchildren and found each of them unique in his or her own way. He didn’t care much for the organized meeting and clubs, but he was a genuine meat and potato man! He was what you saw! Simply..Frank. Even though he found a project to start or complete every day, he grew weak and tired by illness. Frank went to his eternal rest on Sunday, March 17th, 2013 at his home in Tahlequah, with his loved ones by his side. Frank was 72 years old. He will be greatly missed by all those lucky enough to call Frank a friend.

Frank has gone home to his mother, his father, his daughter, Phyllis who died in 1972, one brother, Jimmy Paul Murphy, two sisters, Beverly Murphy and Dixie Jensen, and one nephew, Tommy Jensen.

Those left to cherish Frank’s memory include his loving wife, Juanita of the home, two adoring daughters, Alexis Yokom and husband Dean of Casselton, ND, and Rosalind Wells and fiance Tim Kapke of Tulsa, OK. He also leaves a step-son, Curtis Lee Clark and wife Cyndi of Tulsa, OK and a step daughter, Janice Baucom and husband Rick of Wagoner, OK. He has one sister, Judy Teichman and husband Barry of Hudson, KS, and brother in law, Loren Jensen of Neodesha, KS. Frank’s legacy lives on in his six grand and three step grandchildren, Hillary Woods, Michael Wells, William Woods Jr., Aaron Woods, Alicia Yokom, Chelsea Yokom, Jeffrey Clark, Hannah Byram, and Ricky Baucom. He also leaves five great grandchildren, Patrick Dylan Wells, Bryan Nicholas Wells, Annie Woods, Troy Woods, and Abby Woods, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.