James McMurphy, 63-year-old Woodward resident, died Wednesday, May 2, 2007 near Canadian, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2007 in the First United Methodist Church with Sue’s brother, John Ross officiating. Interment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.
Roy "James" McMurphy was born on Dec. 25, 1943 in Ponca City, Okla. to Roy James "Jim" and Patricia Headlee McMurphy. James attended school in Woodward from first grade through his graduation from Woodward High School in 1963. He joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 1964, and served for six years. He attended Tonkawa Junior College, where he met Joyce Semrad. Their son Michael Jon was born in 1965. James began his career in the oilfield while he was still in high school, working weekends as a floor hand for Christian Well Service. His brother Mickey was the driller who first hired him. For the next 45 years James enjoyed the oilfield business. He always said that he started at the bottom and went as far as he could go. He loved the work, and he loved the friends he made in the oil patch. Being known as an "oily" was a major part of his identity.
James met Sue Ross Sursa when she moved to Woodward in 1968. He married Sue on May 25, 1969, and he adopted her son Scott. He also gave Scott his first name of Roy. James and Sue had a son, Lyndal Shane, in 1970. James worked for Schlumberger International as a senior operator. He followed the oilfield to Tripoli, Libya, where he worked for Vance Well Service as a driller. He moved his family to the island of Malta, where they lived until 1972. They returned to Woodward, where James and Sue have resided until the present time. From 1972 to 1985, James gained valuable experience in the Oklahoma oilfield. He worked as a tool pusher for Pool Well Service, a field superintendent for May Petroleum, and as the district manager for Astro Well Service. In 1981 James became a partner and manager of McMurphy Well Service in Woodward. He experienced the boom and bust of the 1980's, and then he started his own business, Woodward Well Service, in 1985. In 1996 he sold the business and began working as an oilfield consultant, which he continued until the time of his death. For the last four years, James had worked in the booming Texas Panhandle, near Canadian. He maintained a residence there, but returned to his wife and home in Woodward on the weekends. He remarked recently that he was "living his dream." He had the best of both worlds – a loving family and a job he enjoyed. And more recently, James had fulfilled a lifelong dream of learning to fly.
The March issue of Aero Connections magazine featured a story about James entitled, "The Man Who Did It Right." Like everything he ever did, James did it right when he embarked upon the world of flight, he studied the books, he learned the rules, he passed all the tests, and he proudly received his Sport Pilot License in 2006. He owned two ultra light airplanes, which he loved and maintained meticulously.
James was well known in the oilfield, but he was also known around Woodward as the man who lived in the Castle House. After he and Sue traveled to Scandinavia in 2000, James came home inspired by the architecture. Sue drew up the plans and James found a friend to help him build the castle mailbox. Channel Four in Oklahoma City did a special interest story about the castle, and it has been featured in magazines and newspapers. James later visualized the Castle Ponds, which he completed in 2005. People from far and wide have enjoyed the castle ponds as a backdrop for senior pictures and bridal photos. Special friends Bucky and Brandi Simmons were married there in 2005.
James was proud of his three sons, and he loved his entire family. His grandchildren were very special to him. He took them for rides in the golf cart and walked with them along the creek. They like to play on Grandpa’s castle. Over the years, James did many exciting and fun things. He built a street rod, rode motorcycles, and he became a certified scuba diver and hunted for treasure in Honduras and other locations. He built a couple of fabulous tree houses, he engineered retaining walls all over town, and he maintained a beautiful lawn. He and Sue traveled all over the world with their friends Don and Judy Mann, Henry and Carol Vloedman, and Greg and Brenda Wines. First and foremost, James was a working man. He loved the oilfield and everything about it – the people, the rigs, the problem solving, and the fast pace. He wore many hats in his lifetime, and he had more fun than most people. He made us laugh, and occasionally made us mad, but he was one of a kind.
James died on May 2, 2007 when his ultra light aircraft crashed near Canadian, Texas. He had always told Sue, "If anything ever happens to me, I want you to know that I did everything I ever wanted to do. I’ve had a great life."
James was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Pat McMurphy. He is survived by his loving wife Sue, three sons, Scott McMurphy of Yukon, Michael McMurphy and wife Michelle of Fort Rucker, Ala., and Lyndal McMurphy and wife Lori of Tulsa. He had six grandchildren, Misty Dawn McMurphy of Texas, Nathan and Brooke McMurphy of Fort Rucker, and Conner, Nicole and Ethan McMurphy of Tulsa; his brother Luther Mitchell "Mickey" McMurphy and wife Ann of Liberal; a special aunt, Irene McMurphy of Woodward; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives. He left behind friends too numerous to mention, including his lifelong friend Carl Irwin of El Reno.
His wife Sue believes the world will be a lot less colorful and exciting without James.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Rheumatoid Arthritis Research with the funeral home accepting the contributions.
Remembrances may be shared on-line at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com
