BETTY OWEN MURPHREE
Betty Owen Murphree, known to her loved ones as “Pete,” died April 18, 2024, at Golden Age Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Denham Springs, Louisiana. She was 88 years old.
Betty was born June 5, 1935, in Three Creeks, Arkansas, the daughter of John Edgar Owen and Alcie Jane Hanry Owen. She was the baby of the family and the last surviving of 14 children, including three half-brothers. She graduated from Junction City High School, in Junction City, Arkansas. Betty retired from First National Bank in El Dorado, Arkansas.
In her leisure time, before she became so ill, Betty enjoyed reading, playing games on her iPad, and keeping up with family and friends on Facebook. Betty was known for speaking her mind. She was a cancer survivor and although dementia might have taken her memory, it never took away her will to live. She survived many challenges over the last several months, and fought a hard battle until the end. She was loved by all and was a favorite of the many nurses who took care of her during her time at the nursing home, as well as her hospice nurses. The family is grateful for the care she received in her final days from the staff and nurses at Golden Age, as well as Life Source Hospice nurses, Amber and Katie. A special thanks to Life Source Hospice’s chaplain, Mr. Cedric, for ministering to her during her time in hospice.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse James Douglas Murphree, her daughter Peggy Murphree Langley, her brothers Andrew Dayton Owen, Albert Houston Owen, Harvey Austin Owen, Roy Winford Owen, Edgar Harold Owen, Willis Thomas Owen, Samuel Givens Owen, Jerry Boyd Owen, Sr., and her sisters Ada Idell Owen Oliver, Lydia Elizabeth Owen Langley, Margie Nell Owen Sutton, Etta Claudine Owen Owens, and Mary Jane “Julia” Owen Davis.
Betty will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her surviving family members, son Mike Murphree of Russellville, Arkansas, daughter Patty Giovingo (Scotty) of Walker, Louisiana, grandchildren Norman Langley (Charlsie) of El Dorado, Arkansas, Ashley Ware (Lance) of Taylorsville, Kentucky, Tara Murphree of Little Rock, Arkansas, Jesse Tucker (Shelby) of Denham Springs, Louisiana, great-grandchildren Heaven Langley, Tessa Langley, Jackson Ware, Emma Ware, Bryant Ware, Veda Murphree, Ava Henley, Olivia Henley, Koda Tucker, and Kyler Tucker. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law Tommy Murphree (Pat) and Jeff “Boo Boo” Murphree (Brenda), sister-in-law Pat Murphree; and son-in-law Ronnie Langley. Being a part of two large families she is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services in her honor will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Perry’s Funeral Chapel in El Dorado, AR, internment following at Arlington Memorial Park. A time of visitation will be held from 1:00pm until time of service at the funeral home.