William Gerard Murphy

William Gerald Murphy, 82, of New York, passed away Sunday, March 3, 2024, next to his wife due to complications from cancer. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness. He is survived in death by his wife, Michelle Murphy, his son, William Thomas Murphy, and son and his wife, Darren Thomas Murphy and Melanie Easler Murphy. In 1974, after his baptism, Bill became a Jehovah's Witness. From that moment on, he dedicated his life to serving Jehovah in every way. His commitment and service inspired many people over the years to follow his example and dedicate their lives to serving Jehovah, too. In 1984, Bill moved to South Carolina and opened Showplace Lawns, a landscaping company that allowed him to pursue his love for gardening. Bill had a passion for traveling and had visited numerous destinations worldwide. However, his most cherished location was the beautiful island of St. John. He frequently traveled to the island to enjoy the crystal-clear blue water and relish the delicious food. Bill developed a passion for horses when he was young. One of his favorite events each year was attending the district convention at Bellmont Racetrack. His son has fond memories of him sitting by the track rail during lunch and being mesmerized by the horses' incredible strength and grace. He married Michelle in June 2015 in Columbia, SC. A year after their marriage, they started pioneering together and continued for five years. In January 2018, they moved to Enterprise, Alabama, to help in an area with a greater need. They remained actively involved in the congregation, and Bill served as an elder until he passed away. Bill was also a self-taught artist and would frequently give his paintings to others as gifts. His home became an artist's studio, with paintings adorning almost every wall. If Bill wasn't occupied with his responsibilities towards his congregation, taking care of his family, or painting, you could always find him browsing through the University of South Carolina's online sports forums. He had a deep love for the university and was well-versed in all the statistics of its teams and players. Bill changed many lives in his time and will be missed by those who knew him. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Gerard Murphy, please visit our flower store.