E. JACK MURPHY,

96, of Little Rock, passed away peacefully on Nov. 10, 2021, after a short but courageous battle with lung cancer. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and mentor to so many people in his life. Jack was born in Ladelle, in Drew County, Ark., on Feb 20, 1925, to Marion Murphy and Rena Adcock Murphy. He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings: Artie Murphy Straughn, Robert Hurley Murphy, Wynona Murphy Turner, Marion Murphy Jr, and Lemane Murphy; his wife of 48 years, Lenora Carter Murphy; and second wife, Peggy Johnson Murphy. He is survived by wife, Andrea Carpenter Murphy, son, Dr. Mark Murphy and wife Candy (Treat) Murphy of Little Rock, half-sister, Beth Murphy Glover and her husband Larry Glover of Maumelle, half-sister, Bobbie Murphy Jeffers of Phillipp, Mississippi, half-sister, Judy Murphy Hewitt of Monticello, half-brother, Wendell Murphy and wife Becky of Louisville, Ky., sisterin-law, Maryann Joy Mott Carter of Menomonee Falls, Wis., step-daughter, Pam Johnson Hooper and her husband Dr Sanford Hooper of Little Rock, step-son, Steve Johnson of Little Rock, grandchildren, Ross Carter Murphy and Paige Renee Murphy, both of Little Rock, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jack grew up Baptist but worshipped at Trinity United Methodist of Little Rock for over 60 years. He graduated at age 16 from Drew Central High School in 1941, then joined the Navy in 1943, proudly serving in the Pacific Theatre on the Destroyer U.S.S. Meade. He was honorably discharged in 1946, as Chief Petty Officer. He graduated from the Naval Accounting School and earned a BA degree in Business from San Francisco State University. In Nov. 1945, in San Francisco, he married his sweetheart Anna Lenora Carter, whom he had met shortly after high school. After living in California for eight more years, they moved to Arkansas to be closer to family, settling in Little Rock in 1953. Jack then began a distinguished 30 plus year career with the City of LR, serving as Assistant Finance Director, Finance Director, and Treasurer, plus two terms as Interim City Manager in the 60s and 70s. Upon his retirement from the City of LR, he was a Consultant to the LR Port Authority and appointed to the newly established LR Ambulance Authority. This led to his long service with the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), serving as Board Member and Chair, Board Member Emeritus, and two stints as Interim Director. Jack was an avid outdoorsman and loved deer hunting, trot line fishing, waterskiing, and jogging, even running in his early 90s! He loved the Razorbacks and attended most LR games for 30 plus years. Jack’s greatest passion outside of his family was dancing. He and his first wife Lenora were charter members of the Arkansas Square Dance Hall of Fame. Jack later loved dancing at the Ballroom Latin Swing Club, Bop Club, and American Legion with his second wife Peggy, third wife Andrea, and countless other dance partners. In fact, he was dancing three nights a week well into his 90s. The family would like to thank Dr. Daniel Watson and Lauren Stringer, APRN of Autumn Road Family Practice; Dr Kalyana Koneru, Baptist Health; and Dr Lawrence Mendelsohn, Carti/Baptist Health; and all the nursing and support staff at Baptist Health in Little Rock for their great care and concern during Jack’s recent illness. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 16, 5-7 p.m., Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W Markham, LR, 72205. Funeral service will be Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 1:30 p.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church (TUMC), 1101 N Mississippi, LR, 72207. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials go to the MEMS Foundation, P.O. Box 2452, LR, 72203, or TUMC. Full obituary and guest book: https://www.ruebelfuneralhome.com/obituaries/ under E. Jack Murphy/