Jo Murphy

Jo Murphy was born on March 12, 1925 to Mary Thomas and Champion Powell in Old Waverly, Texas. She was the baby of eight children. She passed away June 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Jo graduated from Willis High School as valedictorian of her class; she then moved to Houston and began working for the Draft Board. Through her contacts there, she obtained a job working for Jesse H. Jones who with his wife, Mary Gibbs Jones, founded Houston Endowment, Inc., a non-profit philanthropic foundation. At Houston Endowment she stated out as a secretary, was promoted to the payroll department, and in 1964 was put in charge of handling real estate, property taxes, and insurance matters in businesses that Mr. Jones had established in New York, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. In 1976 she became the Executive Secretary to the president of Houston Endowment and a director of the foundation. In 1981 she was again promoted and became Vice-President holding this position for nine years. As a director and as the Vice-President, Mrs. Murphy supported with enthusiasm large and numerous grants made in support of facility construction, endowments, scholarships, and equipment purchases that strengthened music performance and education in colleges, universities, and civic organizations throughout the state of Texas. Following her retirement, she continued to demonstrate her love of choral music by attending concerts and through her own personal and generous contributions to the music ministry of churches, universities, and organizations that we are glad to report include the San Antonio Chamber Choir.

Jo belonged to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with C.W. Murphy for many many years. She was a member of the Junior League of Houston, Tabeel Temple no. 88, and the Daughters of the Nile. She was also an active member in the Rotary Club. She supported through scholarships and donations to Baylor University in Waco, and Texas Lutheran University. Jo was also an advocate for the M.D. Anderson Ronald McDonald House.

Jo was preceded in death by her husband C.W. Murphy; sisters Myrtle Platter, Becky Hulon, Mary Lou King, and Mamie Ruth Caver; brothers Vernon Powell, Travis Powell, and Robert Louis Powell. She is survived by her nephew Bobby Hulon; niece Rosemary Powell Koster; great nephews Darrin Koster and Matthew Koster; great niece Tracey Jo Koster; great-great nieces and nephews Shelby, John and Ava Koster.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Metcalf Funeral Directors with visitation to begin at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Old Waverly Cemetery. The family wishes to say thank you to the administration and staff of Herman Memorial University Place Nursing Center.