Possum Murphy

Harold D. Murphy Jr., 69, passed away March 4, 2021, in Carlton.

Graveside services were held Sunday in Murphy Cemetery, Carlton, with Pastor James Clifton officiating.

Mr. Murphy was born Aug. 29, 1951, in Artesia, New Mexico, to Harold and Ruth (Pergeson) Murphy.

Harold, better known as “Possum,” was the owner and operator of the family business, Murphy’s Wrecker Service, for more than 30 years.

Possum served his community as a volunteer fire chief for more than 25 years and was also a volunteer EMS driver in the 1990s. Helping others and saving lives were the greatest accomplishments of his career.

Possum lived in the Carlton community, where he attended grade school as a child, then went on to attend and graduate from Hico High School.

In his spare time, Possum enjoyed horses and his cattle. As a devoted family man, Possum always spared the best of his time for his grandkids and great-grandkids.

Preceding Possum in death were his parents, his daughter Kristi Murphy and his sister Mary Martha.

Possum is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Nelda; his daughter, Kim and her husband Scott; granddaughters Amanda and husband Kirk, Alicia and husband Derek and Samantha; great-grandchildren Aiden, Emma, Daniel, Tessa, Hailea and Ryleigh; siblings Caroline, Jack and wife Mary, Billy and wife Loretta, Janelle, Mae and Nita; and a host of nieces and nephews.