Mary Payne Murphy

Mary was born on June 23, 1927, in Normangee, Texas to Mary McAdams and Benjamin Franklin Payne. She passed away September 24, 2024, in Tyler, Texas. In 1928, her family moved to Carthage, Texas where Mary’s father purchased the controlling interest in First State Bank, a pillar of the community currently in its 124th year of operation, where her son is the CEO/COB and granddaughter is its General Counsel. Upon graduation from Carthage High School as a member of the Class of 1944, Mary attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1948. While teaching third grade in Bryan, Texas, she met Air Force Lieutenant Foster Eugene Murphy in the Young Professionals Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church. They married on June 1, 1952, beginning a joyful union that lasted 67 years. Faith and family were the bedrocks of their marriage. After moving to Tyler, Texas in the fall of 1953, the couple became active members of Marvin Methodist Church and founding members of the Chapel Sunday School Class. 2024 marks Mary’s 70th year at Marvin Church. Mary and Foster were parents to three loyal and active sons in the Tyler community: Thomas Franklin, John Foster, and David Brian. While balancing motherhood and domestic management, Mary also served as a caregiver for her mother, Mary McAdams Payne; Foster’s parents, Peter and Nina Murphy; and Foster’s grandparents, Clare and Pearl Howard. With a full family life, Mary still enjoyed active memberships in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of the American Revolution, and on a local level, the Tyler Garden Club, the Tyler Historical Society and Marvin Methodist Church’s Homebound Ministry. In the later years of their marriage, Foster and Mary were free to travel the globe on a variety of group trips. Specifically, their trips to Europe celebrated their Scottish and Irish heritages, which stoked Mary’s passion for genealogy. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Foster. Left to cherish her memory are her three sons: Thomas and his wife Share of Dallas, Texas; John and his wife Elizabeth of Tyler, Texas; David and his wife Peggy of Shreveport, Louisiana; her grandchildren: Carolyn and husband Graham Thompson of Shreveport, Louisiana; Dr. Andrew and wife Kelsey of Norfolk, Virginia; Ryan Elizabeth of Corpus Christi, Texas; Mary Kate and husband Billy Howard of Tyler, Texas; Patrick and fiancée Gretchen Theis of Houston, Texas; and great-grandchildren by Andrew and Kelsey: Harrison, Hattie, and Henry. The family is grateful to The Blake Assisted Living Community and Hospice of East Texas for providing comfort, activity, and enjoyment in Mary’s last months, and the special support in her last week. They would also like to thank Cassandra Howard, Mary’s Caregiver, for her constant attention, love, and exemplary service this year. Services for Mary will be held at Marvin Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin St. in Tyler at 10:30 in the morning on Saturday, October 12, 2024, with Dr. Doug Baker officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be the Directors and Officers of First State Bank and Trust Company and Mary’s grandchildren. A private family burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tyler Bethesda Health Clinic (409 W. Ferguson Street, Tyler, TX 75702), Marvin Methodist Church, Attention: Missions (300 W. Erwin Street, Tyler, TX 75702), or the local philanthropy of your choice.

Mary Payne Murphy

June 23, 1927 - September 24, 2024