Lawrence Grady "Tubby" Murphy

View Video TributeView Funeral Webcast Lawrence Grady "Tubby" Murphy, 86, retired teacher and coach, died Thursday, May 13, 2010 at his residence on New Lewisburg Highway. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Elmer Crosby officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to service time at the funeral home. The Maury County native was the son of the late Henry Grady Murphy and Gladys Read Murphy Studer. Following graduation from Bosse High School in Evansville, Indiana, he headed West on an adventure to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a cowboy in Colorado. After eight months he changed course and enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in St. Louis, Missouri and served in the 88th Air Defense Artillery. After his military discharge, he entered Vanderbilt University and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He then attended Tennessee Tech in Cookeville and earned a B. S. Degree in 1949. Following several years of teaching, he earned his Master's Degree at Vanderbilt-Peabody. He returned to teaching and during his career taught at Whitthorne Junior High School, Central High School, Columbia Military Academy, Tullahoma High School and Hampshire High School. During his tenure at CMA, Major Murphy served as Chairman of the Science Department. Over the years he coached wrestling, football, track and field, and cross country. Active in civic and community affairs, he was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19, Columbia Lions Club, Columbia JayCees and was a Scout Master while at CMA. He was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his college sweetheart at Tennessee Tech and wife of 62 years, Sue Brannock Murphy of Columbia; son, William Read (Doris) Murphy of Aiken, South Carolina; daughters, Rebecca Sue Murphy of Springfield, Illinois, Tricia Anna (Bobby) Call of Columbia, and Molly (Britt) Locke of Milan; grandchildren, Sara Elizabeth (Dr. Mark) Call-Hughes, Amy Rebecca (Jeremy) Luna, Rob Murphy (Lindsay) Call, Andrew Glenn Locke, and John Lawrence Locke; great-grandchildren, Bailey Allen Luna, Emma Grace Hughes, Murphy Lynn Call, Macy Anne Luna; sister, Rosemarie Studer of Richmond, Virginia; brother, Nicholas Studer of Corvallis, Oregon. He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Murphy and his step-father, Dr. Sebastian Nicholas Studer. Active pallbearers are Jim Borum, Steve Vagnier, Jackie Lawson, Hal Landers, Moore Landers, Kenny Cecil, Kevin Crabtree, and Howard "Buck" Locke. Honorary pallbearers include Ray Porter, Billy Cooke, Frank Belamy, Richard Fly, and former Columbia Military Academy students. The family suggests memorials to the Columbia Lion's Club Eye Glasses Program, P. O. Box 694, Columbia 38402, First Presbyterian Church for the Peggy Porter Living Waters Program, 801 South High Street, Columbia 38401, or Caris Hospice, 1412 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at oakesandnichols.com.