Edmond Ronald "Ron" Murphy, 86, of Bartlett died Saturday, November 4, 2023, at home surrounded by loved ones.

He was born on March 28, 1937 on Easter Sunday in rural Meriwether County, Georgia to Thomas Watson Murphy and Marguerite (Spearman) Murphy. He was retired from the U.S. Navy as a Master Chief Aviation Electronics Technician and as an associate dean from Central Texas College in the Naval Aviation Technical Training Contract Program which completed a 34 year run in 2014.  He was a graduate of Newnan High School in Georgia, State Technical Institute in Memphis and Western Illinois University. He attended graduate school at the University of Arkansas. He held single and multiple engine airplane certificates as well as instrument and instructor ratings. He enjoyed woodworking (especially turning gavels) and reading, going through about 100 novels a year. He was a past master and long-time secretary of Bartlett Masonic Lodge, a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason, serving as commander of the Council of Kadosh in 2002/2003, a York Rite Mason and Shrine Mason. He belonged to numerous Masonic organizations including the Royal Order of Scotland, the Red Cross of Constantine, serving as Sovereign in 2019, Order of the Eastern Star, Knight Masons, National Sojourners, Heroes of '76 and the Societas Rosicruciana. He was a Vietnam veteran, an aircrewman in patrol and reconnaissance squadrons; a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Harriet Murphy, a daughter, Katherine White (Jerry), and son, Edmond Murphy Jr., all of Bartlett. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Michelle Smith, and brothers, John Harrison and Michael Harrison. He leaves a sister, Geraldine Cumbee, of Newnan, Georgia and brother, Terry Murphy (Vera), of Lafayette, Georgia.  He leaves grandchildren Gina Travis (David) of Clermont, Florida, Brett Willard (Amber) of Munford, Leigh Ann Tippett-Emerson (Kevin), Lindsey Murphy, and Samuel White all of Bartlett. Great-grandchildren include Anna Siwek, Matthew, Micah, and Caleb Travis, Gavin, Lexi, and Cooper Willard, Gia, Eli, and Khi White, and Leiland Murphy.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. with a memorial and Masonic Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 7, 2023, at Forest Hill East Funeral Home.

Cremation will follow collection and donation of any useful organs.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Al Chymia Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund, 8220 Highway 64, Oakland, TN 38060 or to the Memphis Scottish Rite Foundation for Childhood Language Disorders, 825 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103.