Paul Murphey, Jr.

Paul C. Murphey, Jr. November 11, 1920 – January 16, 2006 Paul C. Murphey, Jr., prominent Bosque County rancher and World War II Ace fighter pilot, died Monday, January 16, 2006. Services will be at 11:30 am Thursday, January 19 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Waco. Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 6 pm Wednesday, January 18 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Murphey was born November 11, 1920 to the late Dr. Paul C. Murphey, Sr. and Cora Tilley Murphey in Waco, Texas. He attended Waco public schools and graduated from Kemper Academy in 1940. He enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1941 awaiting flight training. He graduated in Class 43D, April 12, 1943, receiving his wings at Williams Field, Phoenix, AZ, then transitioned to a P-38 unit for fighter pilot training. He was among the first 12 in his class ordered to overseas duty. He arrived in Brisbane, Australia, June 28, 1943 and about a week later joined the 80th Squadron, 8th Fighter Group at Ports Moresby, New Guinea. His introduction to air combat was immediate. He was credited with shooting down an enemy aircraft on his first mission. Murphey said the skilled veteran pilots in the squadron helped all the rookies learn to survive. As the air war continued, he was destined to teach rookie pilots the skills of survival. He commented that there were always enough Zeroes Japanese fighter planes for everybody. The squadron saw duty over numerous targets included Lae and Wewak, New Guinea; Hollandia Dutch New Guinea; Rabaul, New Britain. Murphey and his 80th Squadron mates learned to squeeze maximum air time out of minimum fuel on missions to distant targets such as Borneo and Formosa. He became an Ace in December, 1944 at Mindoro, Philippine Islands. In late April, 1945, after almost two years of air combat and finally leading the squadron, he was ordered home. He had earned the following decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters; three Presidential Unit Citations; Southwest Pacific Campaign medal with 6 Battle Stars and the Philippine Liberation ribbon with a battle star. His rank was a Captain. After returning to the United States in 1945, Murphey quickly married Sue Brooks Murphey of Houston. He entered Texas Tech, where he was an honor student and received a bachelor degree in Animal Husbandry. He was named manager and later became owner of Circle M Ranch, which has bred Hereford cattle for over 60 years. Murphey served two terms as a director of the Texas Hereford Breeders Association. He was an active member of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, Meridian Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Meridian Post; Meridian School Board, four terms; St. James Episcopal Church, Meridian, treasurer and senior warden. Upon closure of the church by the diocese, he transferred membership to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Waco. He was an ardent life-long golfer and enjoyed hunting and fishing. The couple traveled to Russia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Southeast Asia, Japan, Canada and Alaska. He was a familiar figure at reunions of the 80th squadron, which remains an active duty unit of the United States Air Force. Murphey was preceded in death by Sue, his loving wife of 59 years. He is survived by daughter, Elizabeth Milam of Waco; son, Paul C. Murphey, III and wife Jane Stockard Murphey of Meridian; granddaughters, Mary Beth Milam, Margaret Brooks Milam and Laura Ann Murphey; grandsons, Robert Edward Murphey, Michael Carlton Murphey, David Ray Murphey and sister, Dorothy M. Kendrick of Waco. Pallbearers will be David Christian, Roger Parsons, Steve Browning, Joe Kendrick, Jr., Rob Murphey, Michael Murphey, David Murphey and Clement Milam. Honorary pallbearers will be M. F. Kirbey, Spencer Brown, Jim Scruggs, Bud Gervig, James Warner, Edgar Jablonowski, W. D. Hunter and Jack Jeffrey. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey