Patrick H. Murphy Jr.

His family moved to Austin, Texas when he was two years of age. He attended Rosewood Elementary School and L.C. Anderson High School. He received his B.A. degree in Music from Huston-Tillotson College in 1954. He was baptized into the Eastside Church of Christ at an early age and was a faithful and active member during the early years of his life.

In 1968, Pat united in holy matrimony to Judge Harriet M. Murphy and enjoyed a long and beautiful marriage. They had one son, Charles Murphy. Upon completing college, he joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his discharge from the service, he began working at the U.S. Post Office in Austin, Texas. He was one of the first African American postal workers to be promoted to supervisor in Austin. In his position as supervisor, he was noted for training African Americans and Hispanics to fulfill significant positions at the post office. During his postal career, he manned the post office at the State Comptroller’s Office. After 33 years of service, he retired on June 30, 1989.

During and after retirement, Patrick spent time serving on Travis County Grand Juries, and acting as a Precinct Judge in numerous political elections. He was appointed to serve as a Field Operations Supervisor for the 1990 United States Census in the Austin area. He enjoyed membership in the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated after being inducted at Tillotson College in 1952. He also became a connecting link as an auxiliary to the Austin Chapter of the Links, Inc. Pat was a charter member of Gamma Gamma Boulé, Austin, Texas and also served as a Sire Archon. On the 21st day of June in 2010 he was recognized by the Grand Boulé Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity for his loyalty and devotion to the ideals and principles of the fraternity since 1984. As a Boulé member he became a mentor at the Barbara Jordan Elementary School and also worked with the student career projects of the organization.

Pat’s great love was music. He played in the L.C. Anderson High School Band and the Huston-Tillotson University Band. He was a jazz fan, and he played the saxophone. Pat became a part of several musical groups. The most outstanding was the James Polk Band and the Thomas Kincheon Band, etc. He was a great friend of mankind.

He is survived by his wife, Judge Harriet M. Murphy of Austin; his son, Charles Murphy of Harlingen, Texas; granddaughters Tajaha Murphy, Lashay Murphy, Jazmine Murphy of Austin, Texas, and Chelsea Wray of Harlingen, Texas; grandsons Charles Wray and Christopher Wray of Harlingen, Texas; sister Maxine City of Los Angeles; sister-in-law Bernice Berry of Kansas City Missouri; nieces and nephews Elaine City, Glenn City, Nina Gail Jackson, Arthur Jackson, John Edwin Murphy, Dr. Glenn Berry, Dr. Marc Berry, and Anita Berry; beloved close cousins, Stanley O. Murphy, Dr. Hardy Ray Murphy, Jr., Gerald G. Murphy, Sr., Dr. Debra L. Murphy, Patsy Allen Julius, and Sidney Murphy; and many other relatives and friends.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 5th of April 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

A memorial service will be conducted at half past eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 6th of April 2013, at the Church of Christ at Eastside, 5701 East MLK Boulevard and State Highway 183, Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers and the customary remembrances, memorials may be sent to the Huston-Tillotson University Development Office, 900 Chicon Street, Austin, Texas 78702 for a Murphy scholarship in music.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.