Bernice Murphy

Audrey Bernice Murphy, of Groesbeck, passed away in Temple on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at age 97. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Brother Richard Williams of the Church of Christ of Groesbeck officiating. Burial will follow in the Faulkenberry Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Chris Murphy, Ryan Murphy, Michael Murphy, Jason Murphy, Dwain George, and Jessie George. Bernice was born to Charlie Tom Rice and Millie Fleming Rice on July 27, 2018 in the rural area where the family farmed outside Groesbeck, and she attended school at Prairie Point. One of her teachers, Franklin Jackson, picked her up at her house and took her to school. Bernice worked during the fifties and sixties at Evans Corner Drug. She served many of the young people of Groesbeck with cherry phosphates and malts, as well as serving coffee every morning to a regular group of local men, in addition to all the other soda fountain customers. Later, Bernice went to work at the Mexia State School and worked there until eligible for retirement. After she retired, she devoted more years of her life in the Foster Grandparents program where she provided special attention to the residents. Bernice had a love for animals in general, especially cats. She nurtured many cats in her home, and one especially became very well nurtured growing to a very large size. Her cats were well taken care of and never allowed outside unless on a leash. Her love of the cats caused her to be given many gifts with cat themes. She had a very serious life-long habit of never being late, and she did want anyone showing up late that was to meet with her. She was especially neat and well-groomed at all times, and very particular about neatness in her home (to the extent that she mopped the floor before time for the cleaning lady to come.) Bernice was a member of the Church of Christ of Groesbeck. She moved to Temple to be with her son and family five years ago, and had lived the last two years at Windsor Healthcare in Groesbeck. She remained very active, helping the other residents there, and she still enjoyed going shopping at Walmart, until a fall two weeks ago. Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Dwain Rice and Troy Rice; and sister, Charlene Rice Black. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Don Allen and Linda Murphy of Belton and Larry Joe and Gypsy Murphy of Harlingen; eight grandchildren (and spouses): Chris Murphy of Austin, Ryan and Ashley Murphy of New Braunfels, Michael Murphy of Austin, Jason and Sandra Murphy of Richmond, Dwain and Kim George of Temple, Jessie George of Temple, Jenny and Oscar Cervantes of Richmond, and Danielle and R. J. Broadway of Arkansas; twelve grandchildren; niece, Ann Latham and nephew, Curtis Black; and other extended family.