William Murphy Jones Jr.

William Murphy Jones Jr., 81, of Pine Bluff passed away April 25, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Murphy was born January 11, 1936 to William Murphy Jones Sr. and Dorris Nolley Jones in Hamburg, Arkansas, Mr. Jones was reared and received his early education in Hamburg, graduating from Hamburg High School in 1954. Growing up as a Boy Scout he became an Eagle Scout and was a member of the Order of The Arrow. Murphy started his stamp collection with National Wildlife Federation "wildlife stamps", a conservation packet that was prepared for the 1953 Boy Scout Jamboree. He attended a Junior Conservation Camp where he learned more about fishing and hunting and about living in the outdoors. In the summer of 1953 he attended Arkansas Boys State. After high school graduation he started his college education by entering into a co-op program with Georgia Tech where he would work three months at Crossett Paper Mill and go to school three months. In 1957 Murphy married Marguerite "Sissy" Robinson and their marriage was blessed with two children, Mary Virginia (Ginger) Jones Cheatham and William (Bill) Murphy Jones III. On January 2, 1958 Murphy and Sissy moved to Atlanta where Murphy attended and graduated from Georgia Tech University. While at Tech he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He obtained his Electrical Engineering degree, with honors and accepted a job with AP&L, which later became Middle South Services (Entergy) in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. While at Entergy he had an opportunity to work as an electrical engineer for the distribution company ESCOM in Johannesburg, South Africa for five years. After returning from Africa he rejoined the family business as Secretary/Treasurer, became an integral part of Advertising/Marketing with the expanded growth of Sissy's Log Cabin. He was past president of the Arkansas Antiques Association, and an active member of various jewelry associations. Murphy was a faithful member of Lakeside United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he served on the Board of Trustees. He loved being a member of the Wesley Sunday school class where he served as President for over 20 years. He always had a special place in his heart for the Watson First United Methodist Church which he often visited. He was a previous board member of the Salvation Army, Kiwanis and Rotary Club. He was a long time sponsor of Babe Ruth Baseball league at Taylor Field and was inducted into the Babe Ruth Hall of Fame and also sponsored the Torii Hunter Baseball Foundation Scholarship at UAPB in Pine Bluff. He was past president of American Baseball League at Pine Bluff. Murphy loved nature and outdoors which included hunting and fishing at their hunting club, Split River (in the Delta) with his family and friends. He spent many hours on his back patio watching and feeding his birds and tending to his flower gardens. Most of all, he cherished his family, loved life and people. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Dr. George Samuel "Sam" Jones. He is survived by his wife, Marguerite "Sissy" Robinson Jones, daughter, Mary Virginia Cheatham (Kevin) of Pine Bluff, son, William M. Jones, III (Sharri) of Pine Bluff; brother, Barry Crisman "Cris" Jones (Eleanor) of Pea Ridge , two sisters, Charlotte Virginia McKiever (WJ) of Monticello and Angela Nolley Shelton (Gary)of Little Rock ; nine grandchildren, Amanda (Mandi) Robinson Motes, Michael Thomas Motes, Mary McGeorge Motes, Marlee Jones Motes, Daniel Marion Cheatham, Shelby Clayton Cheatham, William Murphy Jones, lV, Wyatt Champion Jones and Joe Wayne Cook Jr. (Blair). The family will receive friends Sunday, April 30, 2017, 5-7 p.m., at Ralph Robinson & Son. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m., Monday, May 1, 2017, at Lakeside United Methodist Church with Reverends Steve Wingo and Pamela Jean Estes officiating. The committal service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 1, 2017 at Gillett Cemetery in Gillett, Arkansas, preceding the services at Lakeside. The family wishes to thank his devoted caretakers Dorothy Joshua, Kathleen Stinnett, Khadijah Boyd, Roxanne Hedden, James Baker, Hospice Angels, Arkansas Cancer Institute and Dr. Sue Frigon for their excellent care. The family has asked that persons wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider Lakeside United Methodist Church, 1500 South Olive, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601, the Salvation Army, or Baseball Program Taylor Field, PO Box 6654, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71611. Online condolences: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.