Judith Elaine Murphy

Judith Elaine Murphy, age 83, known as Judy by her friends and family passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Judy was born to L.C. Braden and Lois P. Meador on December 7, 1941 in Hillsboro, Texas. Judy was the youngest of 10 children. Judy was raised in the Waco area as a devout member of the Nazarene church.

Judy was a lover of all kinds of music. Judy shared one of the greatest thrills of her life was sneaking out of the house to attend an Elvis Presley concert in her youth.

In 1971, Judy and her 3 children, Randy, Rhonda and Lewis left the Waco area to begin a new life in Houston, Texas. That is where Judy met the love of her life, Leon E. Murphy. Judy and Leon were joined in marriage on June 15, 1976. Judy and Leon were married for 42 years until his death in 2018.

Judy is preceded in death by her parents, step-father John Henning, brother Windol Braden, 7 sisters: Helen Schoggins, Louise Threadgill, Catherine Santhuff, Alice White, Dot Brown, Nettie Jackson and Pat Dobias, Leon’s daughter and husband, Carolyn and Ron Owens and her loving husband, Leon E. Murphy.

Left to honor Judy’s memory are her loving family: Sister Bettie Hughes, children Roger Murphy, Randy Threlkeld and wife Julie, Rhonda Poe and husband Tracy, Lewis Threlkeld and wife Debi; grandchildren Tonya Sorenson and husband Bobby, Judy Vorderkunz and husband Jacob, Courtney Gilbreath and husband Wesley, Erica Threlkeld and husband William Haliburton, Andrew Threlkeld and wife Jennifer, Nick Threlkeld, Charlotte Taylor and husband Staton and Sheridan Threlkeld.

Great grandchildren: Caroline Rolf and husband Garrett, Jordan Haigood and wife Kae, Victoria Rose and husband Christian, Najala Haigood and fiancé Bradley, Kaitlyn Tenberg and fiancé Kedrick, Chandler Emerson, Tucker Sorenson, Hayley Tenberg, Charlie Vorderkunz, McKenzie Gilbreath, Tristian Sorenson, Zeta Emerson and fiancé Andrew, Madison Gilbreath, Kyler Gilbreath, Dixie Sorenson, Ashley Threlkeld, Decklan Sorenson, Jaxon Threlkeld, Milo Garretson, Andi Threlkeld, Oliver Walker and John Threlkeld.

Great-great grandchildren: Zander Rose, Whitley Rose, Waylon Rose, Kai Johnson, Memphis Rose, Granger Rose, Charlie Elaine Rolf, Hadley Rose, Leon Haigood, Kash Sandhoff, Daniel Perrin Jr. and Adaline Haigood.

And her special fur baby Jax.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ascension Providence Hospice for their gentle care of Judy in her final days. We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to Erica and William for their dedication to the care of Judy over the last few years.

Proverbs 31:28-29

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”