Betty Josephine Murphy

Betty Jo Murphy was 97 years young when she passed away on April 3, 2026, in Davidson County. She was one of eight siblings, born on June 29, 1928, in Lexington to the late Frederick Dalton Michael and Eva Elizabeth Wilson Michael.

Betty lived her life in a world surrounded by her four children: Linda, Ray, Reid, and Ann, eight grandchildren: Marc, Dan, Michael, Jason, J.P., Paul, Bill, and Amanda, three great-grandchildren: Andrew, Kaden, and Victoria, and many family (and neighborhood) dogs. She was delighted in her daily walks in the wood, where the wonders of the birds and the trees surrounded her soul. After her husband Wesley “Red” Vestal Murphy passed away in 2006, she spent most of her remaining years living alone in the dream home and garden that she and Red built together; but she was never lonely, as nature, family, and dogs fulfilled her days.

Betty is preceded by her parents, her beloved husband Red, her two sons: David Ray Murphy and his wife Cathy, and Wesley Reid Murphy and his wife Julie, her brothers: Clemmer Michael, Otis Michael, and Duward Michael, her sisters: Lucille Yarbrough, Marie Wood, Evelyn Brogdon, and Peggy Winslow, and her adored grandchild Dan Lopp.

She is survived by her daughters: Linda Lee Lopp (Robert) and Elizabeth “Ann” Hobach (John), and her seven grandchildren: Marc Murphy (Lynn), Jason Murphy, Michael Lopp (Dana), J.P. Hobach, Paul Hobach (Katie), Bill Hobach, and Amanda Murphy (Scott), and three adored great-grandchildren: Andrew Murphy, Kaden Murphy, and Victoria Hobach.

A graveside service to honor Betty’s life will be held on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, starting at 2 p.m., at Forest Hill Memorial Park, with a visitation prior to the graveside service from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Davidson Funeral Home in Lexington.