Lona Mae Murphy

Lona Mae Murphy passed away on Friday October 9, 2026, in her home in Keller, Tx. She will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother, stepmother, sister, grandmother and friend. She was born on July 10, 1941, in Balmorhea, Texas to Leonard Albert and Myra Lona O'Rear. Lona "Lonnie" attended Balmorhea High School and also attended Abilene Christian University while she picked cotton and worked in the homeroom office to pay her tuition for college. She graduated with honors and was Valedictorian of her graduating class. Lonnie received a bachelor's degree in accounting. She then worked in a tax office in Pecos, Texas before marrying Jim Murphy and moving to Grapevine Texas. Many years later the family moved to Keller and when Margo was old enough to stay home by myself, she started substitute teaching in the many different Keller schools' grades all but high school. Lonnie's main job was a home maker, wife, mother, and grandmother.

Lonnie was always helping dad refinish cars by redoing the upholstery and tinting the windows. Lonnie would also go with dad, and the neighbors fishing at a lake often times in the boat. Basically, anything dad was doing she was right there beside him whether it was putting in new sod in the front yard, cleaning house, towing cars from various parts of town and listening to dad play music on the organ. She was a great seamstress and could sew anything. Lonnie often made mine and my dad's clothes.

She even sewed my dolls clothes for me. Lonnie even made a 50's poodle skirt for one of her granddaughter's Sky. She was often taken up the lengths in her granddaughter's China's jeans. Some of her hobbies in her youth were basketball, bowling, and tennis. In her later years she enjoyed watch Dirk one of the "Mavs" play basketball on TV, even has a jersey. Another one of her hobbies was crochet. She would crochet blankets, throws, hair scrunchies, potholders, and coasters for herself and for others as gifts of love. Cross stitch was a huge part of some of the hobbies she did. Lonnie cross stich table runners, holiday table clothes, banners, framed pictures of butterflies, cats, elephants, and of course a dragon for John. She also cross-stitched clothing like denim jackets for dad and John. Dad had the Tasmania devil while John had "That's all folks" with the whole WB Looney Tunes gang on there. Lonnie was so excited to make a bedroom set with a sheet, quilt, pillowcase, and framed birth announcement of her first grandchild Brandi.

Lonnie's favorites things were Sci Fi TV. She watched the original Star Trek, Next Generation Star Trek, and Farscape. Her favorite was Stargate with Richard Dean Anderson. You would often walk in the house, and it would be showing on the TV. John asked her if this was here Gunsmoke. She laughed and said she guessed so. Lonnie aslo enjoyed reading romance novels especially historical fiction romance. These lead her to read the entire series of Outlander. Her favorite thing would be drinking coffee, coke zero, or tea depending on the time of day and petting a kitty cat and visiting with family.

Lonnie is survived by her daughter Margo Lynn Seymour and husband John. Her step- children Rynda Kay Andrew and husband Van, and James Edward Murphy and wife Sandy; her grandchildren Brandi Meshel Clarke and husband Cameron, Kristin Elizabeth Parker and husband Tracey, and Shelby Murphy Hounshel and husband Logan. She is also survived by honorary grandchildren China Star Lancaster and Senora Sky Lancaster Helton and husband Stephen. Her great grandchildren include Corbin, Torryn, Owen, and Tre.

She is further survived by her sister Joyce Neuhold and sister-in-law Karen O'Rear and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lonnie was proceeded in death by her parents Leonard Albert and Myra Lona O'Rear. She also proceeded in death by 7 brothers and sisters and their spouses and her husband James Murphy.

Remember Lonnie when you smell beef stew and jalapeno cornbread. Remember her when you see a squirrel or a bird. Remember her when you eat her mother's cornbread dressing at Thanksgiving. And never forget the best pecan pie recipe ever made. I know I will always remember how she smelled like La'Air du Temps perfume and how much she loved.