Funeral services for Mr. Joseph “Joe” Anthony Murphy, age 87 of DeRidder, LA will be held at 4:00 PM, Saturday, September 2, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston, LA. Burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Joe was born January 12, 1936 in Mahoning County, OH to Lena Goldy and William Anthony Murphy and passed away August 30, 2023 in DeRidder. He played baseball and basketball and graduated from high school as valedictorian. Joe was the general manager for Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. in Jonesboro, AR and for Coca Cola out of Little Rock, AR before moving to Ruston to manage Ruston Coca Cola until its closure. He then retired from Monroe Coca Cola. Joe served his country in the United States Army in Korea and was stationed in Tokyo, Japan as a staff sergeant. He loved swimming in his exercise class at Louisiana Tech University. Joe also enjoyed gardening, attending LA Tech ball games and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Joy Murphy and two sisters: Arlene Nichols and Evelyn.
Joe is survived by one daughter Lora Emerson and John of Baldwin, MS; two sons: David Murphy and Valerie of DeRidder, LA and William “Tony” Murphy and Amy of Hutchinson, MN; three grandchildren: Britney Murphy and Philip Alexander of DeRidder, LA, Scott Murphy of DeRidder, LA and Kayla and Taylor Hammons of Conway, AR; five great-grandchildren: Roree Murphy, Emree Murphy, Marissa Hammons, Andrew Hammons and Quinn Alexander; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and many friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be David Murphy, Tony Murphy, John Emerson, Scott Murphy, Philip Alexander and Taylor Hammons.
There is no visitation planned at this time.
