James Michael Murphy, (69), of Midland, passed away Monday, April 21, 2014. Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm, Friday, April 25, 2014 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel with the Reverend Barbara Kirk-Norris, from The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity, officiating. Graveside services will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.Mike was born November 29, 1944 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Frances Kathryn Fredrick Murphy and Sir Royal Murphy. He spent his early years living in Hobbs, Slaton, Snyder and Midland.Mike was a 1963 graduate of Midland High School. He received his B.S. in Agriculture/Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1967. He received his M.A. in Range Animal Science from Sul Ross State University in 1970.Mike married Fariss Virginia Wilson on June 8, 1968, in Houston, Texas. They lived in Wharton, Alpine, Toyah and Pecos (31 years). They moved to Midland in 2005, when he retired from Texas A&M University, as Station Superintendent of the Agricultural Research Station.Mike’s hobbies included cooking, golfing, playing his guitar, working in the yard, planting trees, restoring his 1967 Ford pickup and flying radio-controlled airplanes. He also enjoyed having many dogs, cats and horses throughout his lifetime.Mike was honored as “Outstanding Reeves County Livestock Show Committee Member” in 1985 and received the Pecos Chamber of Commerce’s “Agricultural Service Award” in 1999. He also served as Grant Coordinator for the Pecos Tree Board, President for the Pecos Valley Country Club, and Senior Warden of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.Mike is survived by his wife, Fariss; son, James “Jim” Michael Murphy, Jr. and his wife, Monica; step-granddaughters, Zoe and Ariel Solis, all of Midland; brothers, Larry Patrick “Pat” Murphy, and his wife, Janette, of Albuquerque, NM and Billy “Bill” Fred Murphy and his wife, Linda, of Poplar Bluff, MO; and one niece and three nephews.The family wishes to thank the staff at Allison Cancer Center for 14 years of dedicated, compassionate care. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to “Gifts of Hope, Inc.”, PO Box 1323, Midland, TX 79701 (or) the charity of your choice.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,
