Ules Paul Murphy

Ules Paul Murphy, age 91, of Morristown, It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Ules Paul Murphy at the Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System on Tuesday morning, July 28, 2020 after battling complications forced upon him from Covid-19. Paul was born on January 13, 1929 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Annie E. and John C. Murphy. He was the next to the youngest of six children having three older brothers, Virgil, Dewey, and Johnny, one older sister, Nellie and a younger sister, Bonnie. As a young man he learned to work hard and had a number of different jobs early on from picking cotton and cutting timber on the local farms close to home, to working in restaurants and a shoe factory in the big city of St. Louis where he moved at the age of 16. He later moved north to Pontiac, Michigan where he was employed by the General Motors Corp in The Fisherbody Division. His employment was interrupted in early 1951 as he answered his call to duty and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War traveling overseas to Germany and France. He was a proud veteran, a corporal, and a member of the Honor Guard detail. He returned home with his career at G.M. retiring after 32 years in 1981. Shortly after returning home he met the love of his life, Thelma June Harrell in the summer of 1953 at the local hot spot “Elders Drive In” in Pontiac and they were married that following year on February 12th, their journey together would last for almost 67 years.  Paul had an amazing memory and would tell stories from his childhood with such clarity and detail you felt as if you were there with him somewhere back in time. He had a strong lasting connection to his roots returning every year for his school reunion to visit and reminisce with his lifelong friends from the one room school house in “Lone Hill” where they all grew up together. He come to know Jesus and was baptized by his cousin on one of his reunion trips back home. He was a good husband and father who always took care of his family and did the best he could to teach and guide his children. He was always there when you needed him to lend a hand or give a kind word of encouragement, always putting family first. He was a gentle, loving, caring soul that has left a permanent mark etched in our hearts and will be dearly missed by his wife and best friend, June; his children, Barry (Dolly) Murphy, Brian (Pam) Murphy, Brent (Tamara) Murphy, and Brad (Norma) Murphy; grandchildren, Matthew, Brandon, Austin, Cory (MaKayla), Bryce, Brody, Brock, and Trevor. Family and friends will meet for 1 pm graveside on Wednesday, August 5th at Hamblen Memory Gardens with Military Honor Guard Post 5266 and Rev. Mike Cutshaw officiating. Arrangements  by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown.

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