John Presley Murphy

John Presley Murphy, 91, of Mount Holly, passed away on Monday, January 3, 2022. He was born in Gaston County on October 1, 1930 and was the son of the late Claude V. and Dorcas I. Murphy. He attended Belmont High School, Burton Institute in Charlotte, and Belmont Abbey College. John was a veteran of the Korean War, having served nearly four years in the U.S. Navy. For over 40 years, he was a member of the Westview Presbyterian Church in Mount Holly. He was a member of the choir, served as a deacon, an elder, and the clerk of session. John was employed by Duke Power at Allen Steam Station in Belmont and retired in 1989 after 30 years of service. He enjoyed gardening and playing bluegrass music and is an honorary lifetime member of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. Each year since John became an honorary member, he and his wife, Nina and their daughter Diane, have traveled to Owensboro to visit the museum. He was a member of the original Blue River Boys. There is an 11X14 picture of the original Blue River Boys in a showcase at the museum. The members of the band were his brothers, Dewey and Fred (C.D.) Murphy and the Davis brothers, Hubert and J.C. "Pee Wee" Davis from Shelby, N.C. and later with L.W. Lambert of Olin, North Carolina. John will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be deeply missed. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 67 years, Nina; daughters, Diane Bunn and her husband Donnie and Connie Ulacia; his grandchildren, Meagan Bunn, Aaron Bunn, Chris Bryant and his wife Kayla, Stephanie Norris and her husband Landon, and Emily Ulacia; one great granddaughter, Pressley Norris; his sister, Ruth Benoy and her husband Gene; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Murphy's body will lie in state at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly from 11:00 until 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 6, 2022. A graveside service with military honors to celebrate his life, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery in Mount Holly.

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