Bertie Wells Murphy

Bertie Wells Murphy, 100, passed away on Monday, March 28, 2011. Memorial Services are scheduled for 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at First Christian Church in Dumas. Rev. Darrell Wait, pastor of the church will be officiating. The family will have a visitation on Friday, April 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. A private family interment will be held at Dumas Cemetery. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Bertie was born on April 28, 1910 in Moore County, Texas. She was the firstborn of five children to James Edward Ed Wells and Bessie Walker Wells. Bertie had been a resident of Moore County and Dumas most of her life. She outlived all of her siblings Iris Wherry, Gaston Buck Wells, Leota Wells and Lillian Harrison. They were all born at the family farmhouse and went to school at the Palo Duro School a rural school in eastern Moore County until each of them entered high school in Dumas. Bertie graduated as valedictorian of her class. She attended business school in Amarillo and worked for a local corporation for a year before returning to Dumas and marrying her high school sweetheart, George Murphy. They resided in Moore County all of their married life where they raised three children. Bertie was an excellent cook and helped prepare meals for the local Lions Club as well as her church for many years. She possessed the inner strength and attitude of our pioneers, yet she adapted to change while maintaining her faith in God and mankind. She was selected as the Dumas Lions Club OldTimer of the Year in 2004, and happily rode in the parade in a red convertible driven by her first great grandson. She had many hobbies including playing bridge and 42, doing many jobs at her church, sewing, crocheting, gardening and staying busy with her hands and mind until her final illness. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her husband, her sisters and brothers, one daughter, Suzanne Murphy Brandon, and one grandson, Mark Salim. Bertie is survived by one daughter, Beth Salim and husband Mike of Dumas one son, Ramon Murphy and wife Hilda of Hideaway, TX nine grandchildren twenty greatgrandchildren and five great greatgrandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church Memorial Fund, 423 S. Maddox, Dumas, TX 79029.