Services for Kenneth Murphy, 92, of Ada are at 10 A.M. Wednesday at the Stonewall First Baptist Church. Rev. Richard Dickerson will officiate. Burial will follow at Swan Hill Cemetery in Ada. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Criswell Funeral Home.
Kenneth Murphy passed away in his home Saturday, August 27, 2016.
Teacher, Coach, Sailor, Deacon, Friend are just some of the ways to describe Kenneth Murphy. Kenneth was born in Ada Oklahoma June 6, 1924. He grew up in Owl Creek, just north of Stonewall. His love of sports would start early and continue throughout his life. After graduating from Stonewall High School, Kenneth joined the US Navy in July 1943. Kenneth crossed the equator 15 times before the end of WWII. He and Louise were married on December 22, 1946. Both graduated from East Central. After graduation Kenneth landed his first teaching job at Francis. Kenneth then moved his family to St. Louis, OK where he continued to teach and completed a Master’s Degree in Education from OU in 1954.
It was back to Pontotoc County and a job at McLish for one year before returning to his alma mater in 1957. Kenneth would go on to teach and coach any sport at Stonewall that had a “round’ ball. It was during this time he became one of the founding members of the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association. After hanging up his coach’s whistle in 1970, Kenneth continued as Grade School Principal. He would remain in that position until 1984. Kenneth then went to work for ECU and retired in 2011.
Kenneth Murphy spent a total of 62 years working in public education. During that time he taught and coached hundreds of students. He also traveled across the state attending thousands of baseball, softball and basketball games. Although there are no official statistics to compare, there is little doubt Kenneth has been to more sporting events that any person in the history of our great state.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife Louise Hokett Murphy, his mother, Effie Murphy and father, Clarence Milton Murphy and sisters, Melba Johnson Bradam and Margaret Hamilton.
Kenneth is survived by his children, Steve & Susan Murphy of Frisco, TX and Ginger & Rick Horne of Springdale, AR; grandchildren, Mackenzie & Erin Wilfong of Stillwater, OK, Brenton & Jennifer Horne of Fayetteville, AR, Madison Murphy of Mt. Crested Butte, CO, Anders Horne of Fayetteville, AR and Calan Horne of Springdale, AR; and a great grandchild, Carter Wilfong of Stillwater, OK; sisters, Twyla Stanford of Ft. Worth, TX, Beverly Gholson of Austin, TX, Ann Murphy of Austin, TX, and Carolyn Bane, Austin TX.
Bearers include Erin Wilfong, Brenton Horne, Anders Horne, Brian Davis, Christie Jennings, Terry Scott and Kevin Flowers. Honorary bearers include Calan Horne, Jack Paschall, Ernie McDonald, Jack Blair, Floyd Gibson, James Hill, Bob Langley, Reece Scott and the deacons of Stonewall First Baptist.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Stonewall-McLish Education Foundation, c/o Stonewall Schools, 600 High School Street, Stonewall, OK 74871.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
