Bob Murphy

Bob Murphy, a lifelong resident of Cabot, Ark. died September 25, 2013 after battling several illnesses, including leukemia and pneumonia. He was 71. Bobby Wayne Murphy was born Nov. 17, 1941, in Cabot to John and Rella Murphy, the youngest of four children. He graduated from Cabot High School in 1959, where he played football for four years. He married Linda Sue Finney in 1964. She preceded him in death Nov. 18, 2002, after succumbing to cancer. He was also preceded in death by his eldest sister, Virginia Murphy Glover, in December 2012. He is survived by his children: Regina Murphy and Dr. Andrew Houchins of Emporia, Kan.; John and Jessica Murphy and their children, his granddaughters, Allysson, Taylor and Fallon, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; his sisters Betty and Jack Carrington and Johnnie and Jack Evans of Cabot; numerous nieces and nephews, members of his wife's family and friends. Bob Murphy loved his family dearly, taking them on camping trips to Greer's Ferry Lake and road trips to the Gulf Coast and Florida. While he worked for AMF, bicycles were a standard Christmas gift. He loved to take his granddaughters fishing, and traveled frequently with his wife Linda after the children left for college. He was an industrial electrician, working for AMF Bicycle Manufacturers, then the mental health hospital in Little Rock, then Raytheon/Speed Queen in Searcy before retiring. He helped care for his wife and eldest sister during their last years, and enjoyed watching football and golf and going to Oaklawn Park, car shows and visiting his children. His family mourns his loss deeply, but takes comfort that he is reunited at last with the greatest love of his life, Linda. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Cabot United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or the charity of the donor's choice. Cremation arrangements by Westbrook, a Smith Family Funeral Home. www.SmithFamilyCares.com.