Rebecca Frances Murphree

REBECCA FRANCES LUMPKIN MURPHREE, age 96, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. Frances was a lifelong resident of Little Rock except for a few years as a teenager in Santa Barbara when her father worked in a Los Angeles Chevrolet dealership owned by her uncle. She graduated from Little Rock High School (now Little Rock Central) with honors, and married Melvin T. Murphree. Frances and Melvin were longtime, devoted members of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church. They were married 60 years. Melvin had a stroke in 1992 and she selflessly cared for him for the last seven years of his life and never remarried. They had one child who was the light of their lives, Sandra Murphree Newell, who was married to Jim Newell for 50 years. Jim remembers fondly that Frances had bright red hair, was always soft spoken and kind, and was devoted to her family. Sandra passed away of ovarian cancer in 2012. As well as being a devoted wife, grandmother and great grandmother, Frances was especially devoted to Sandra, her only child, during this time. Frances was full of grace and a strong woman with steadfast love and a constant, amazing faith. She was an excellent cook and an even better seamstress. She made Sandra's wedding dress which was very detailed and she also made sure Sandra was the best dressed girl in high school by making some of her outfits. She and her mother Goldie were avid shoppers and would take Sandra along on Saturday, shopping at the downtown stores and having lunch in the tea room at Gus Blass and Co. She could shop for hours and not buy anything. She and Melvin were always frugal and saved their money. In addition to her daughter and husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, James and Goldie Lumpkin, and her step-sister Betty. Frances is survived by her two grandchildren, Christopher Newell and Paige Newell, and three great-grandchildren, Rachel Newell, Laura Newell and Brady Beavers. Her funeral service will be conducted at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham, Little Rock at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. Visitation will be at 2:30 p.m. prior to the service and Reverend Randy Hyde will conduct the service. Memorials may be given to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church or to the Sandra Murphree Newell Endowed Scholarship at UA Little Rock, in lieu of flowers. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Presbyterian Village and Arkansas Hospice for their loving and supportive care. Arrangements entrusted to Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.