Talmadge Murphy

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at Hermosa Church of Christ for Talmadge "Tally" Kenneth Murphy of Artesia, New Mexico. Services will be officiated by Mike Prude. He will be buried at Woodbine Cemetery in Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Murphy, 86, died on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Artesia GoodLife.

Tally was born on September 21, 1938 in Ridgely, Tennessee to Kenneth and Ella May Murphy. He graduated from Artesia High School in 1956. He met the love of his life, Janice Jean McReynolds at Harding University. They were married on May 25, 1958, in Morrilton Arkansas. They came to Artesia in July of 2012 from Jal, New Mexico. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage before her passing in 2017.

Tally was known first and foremost as a Christian. He was proud to be called Daddy, Papa, Grandpa and Great Papa. He loved to serve the Lord by preaching and serving as an elder in the church. He loved to teach adult bible classes, and lead singing in worship. Tally worked most of his career for Montgomery Ward, until he moved to Jal, New Mexico. He operated his pest control business in both Jal and Artesia, until he retired in 2018. Tally never knew a stranger and had an amazing gift of being an encourager to everyone he met.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Thomas Murphy, his wife Jan, a daughter Cindy Murphy, and grandson Edwin Lee Mitchell.

He is survived by his brother Glenn Murphy and wife Rita, son Ken Murphy and wife Amy of Artesia; daughter Kerrie Mitchell and husband Eddie of Hobbs, N.M.; grandchildren Cody Mitchell, Amanda Murphy, Melissa Mitchell and Tiffany Murphy; great-grandchildren Norah Mitchell, Lyla Mitchell, Makayla Draper and Daniel Hardy.

Memorial donations may be made to Colorado Christian Services, who help build families through adoption at www.christianservices.org.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the loving staff of the Artesia Goodlife who made our daddy a part of their family.