James Dale “Doc” Murphree passed away Sunday at noon on January 18, 2026 surrounded by his family. His family will host a visitation at Heartland Funeral Home in Early from 6 to 8 PM Thursday, January 22 and services will be in Rising Star at the Church of Christ at 10 AM Friday, January 23, burial will follow in the Rising Star cemetery.

Doc was born August 15, 1950 to William Elton and Maybelle Pierson Murphree. Doc grew up in the Williams community and attended school in May Texas. He graduated from May ISD in 1968. He then went on to attend Tarleton State college where he graduated with a BS in Agriculture in 1972. He was a member of the soil judging team that won many awards and honors. While in college he married Janet Ezzell on May 30, 1970. They continued to live in Stephenville as he worked for a short time for the Soil Conservation Service. It was then he decided he’d rather be farming and raising cows so that’s what he set off to do.

In spring of 73, Doc and Janet purchased his grandfather’s farm. He continued a tradition of farming the family land since 1912. To help supplement the farm he worked in the mid-70s in the oil field, following rigs as far as Oklahoma. Often, he worked side-by-side with other family members as wildcatters. Later, Janet and Doc began drilling water wells while trying to raise a family. He and Janet and their two kids worked side-by-side farming the land, raising peanuts, cantaloupes, watermelons, and small grains and coastal for hay. He was always giving away his cantaloupes and watermelons to friends and family. He was very proud of his cattle that he raised from heifers. He was recognized as Conservation Farmer of the year Zone 2 in the Upper Leon Soil and Water Conservation District. In 2005-06, he and his family were recognized by the Rising Star Chamber of Commerce as the Outstanding Farm Family of the year for their contributions to agriculture.

During the 80s and 90s, he volunteered for the May Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as chief and president for several years. One of his favorite things to do was to make sure the local children had a good Christmas. He often donated anonymously to those in need. He never wanted recognition. He was elected to the Comanche Electric Board of Directors in 1995 where he served faithfully for many years. He didn’t just serve on the board he went and made sure all the employees were taken care of. He listened and showed up, standing behind the employees when they needed it the most.

In the late 90s when NAFTA presented itself and farming wasn’t profitable Doc joined his brother Bill and they formed a seismograph partnership, Stealth Inc. Thumping the ground for oil, gas, and water provided many jobs for the young and old. Many adventures, laughs, hard work only few people could imagine. So many fun memories and lasting friendships were made during these years. Doc learned the best he could how to navigate through terrain and technology. Doc never stepped away from the fields. He began planting corn and alfalfa for silage for the local dairies, but the peanut dust called him back. After 20 years, he once again planted peanuts. The smile on his face when that first load was harvested was worth every bit of the hard work and frustration, but the joy he had topped it tenfold.

Through all the years he always made time to take his family on trips, always going somewhere that had to deal with nature. His favorite place was to take his family to Buffalo National Park in Arkansas where he grew up going with his mom and dad and brothers. Doc was notorious for taking some random road. He and Scott gained the name Lewis and Clark while taking us on some wild adventure off the beaten path. (Even though we knew he was bad at directions.) He continued the tradition later in years, taking his grandkids to see all the natural beauty. If you ever had any dealings with Doc, you could be sure you would be treated fair, honest and respectful. He was a man that believed in “your word and a handshake.”

Doc’s greatest moment was when he was baptized by Terry Jackson, June 26, 2023 at the age of 72. He faithfully attended the Church of Christ until his health started to fail.

Doc is survived by Janet his wife for 55 years his daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Jones, and her husband Brandon of Rising Star, his son, James Scott Murphree and wife Misty, also Rising Star, his grandson, Jayden Ballinger and fiancé C.J, granddaughter Brianna and Josh, grandson Jakob and Allison, and grandson Braylon Jones, his great-grandchildren, Kolton, Haidyn, Skylynn and Addie. His brother, Charles, and wife, Barbara, Bill and wife, Teri, Ted and his wife Sherri. Brother-in-law, Skipper Ezzell and Roberta, Benny Ezzell, Willie Ezzell and Brenda, Bryan Ezzell; Sister-in-law Linda Ezzell Worley. There are numerous nieces and nephews as his family is huge. We can’t even start to list all of the kids who he adopted through the years or who adopted him as “Papa Doc.”

He was preceded in death by his parents Elton and Maybelle, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Olena and RT Ezzell, his sister-in-law, Anna Ezzell, and his grandson, Micah Carnley.

In lieu of flowers donations are requested for the May, Rising Star, and Sipe Springs VFD.

Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net