Bobby Ray Murphy

Bobby Ray Murphy, 77, of Fort Smith, AR, passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2025. He was born on July 14, 1948, in Fort Smith to the late Elzie Murphy and Ruby Gillispie Murphy. Bobby retired from Saint-Gobain Corporation, where he worked as a lab technician. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and of the Free Will Baptist faith. Bobby loved his family, going camping and fishing with them.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Murphy, of the home; his daughter, Tabatha Clem of Tulsa, OK; his son, Daniel Murphy and his partner, Kimberly Parker, of Fort Smith, and a sister, Gladys Murphy of Branson, MO. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Connor, Alexander (Ashley), Zane, Madison and Caelion; four great grandchildren, Ember, Robbie, Kyrie and Elijah, and an “honorary daughter,” Jennifer Aquinaldo and her husband Tony, of Denver, CO, “bonus” son, Kent Sims, “bonus” grandchildren, Michael Adams, Sarah Jones, Paige Russell, Emily Nevels and Alyssa White, and bonus 16 great grandkids.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.

Funeral service will be 10:00 am Friday, September 5, 2025, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, with interment at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Caelion Lloyd Murphy, Scott Visalli, Ronny Cannon, Robert “Jim” Branstetter, Kent Sims and Alexander Branstetter.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or go to www.stjude.org.