Samantha Francis Murphy

Samantha F. Murphy, BA, MEd, MS, ALTA, AITA, LDT, 79, of Edgewood, TX, passed away while surrounded by family on August 22, 2020 in Houston, TX, and doing one of the things she loved the most: watching baseball.

A private burial for family will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Edgewood, TX. Arrangements are by Hiett’s Lybrand Funeral Home.

Also known as “Sammy” to her friends, “Mom” to her children and “Mandy” or “YaYa” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Samantha was a true “Renaissance Woman” that became a teacher, librarian, dyslexia therapist, social director and business owner.

Samantha was born in Baytown, TX to Clara Naydene Roberds Leach and Samuel Bolmanskie on February 19, 1941.  Samantha graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, TX where she was a member of the Lee Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps. She continued her education to achieve several higher degrees including Associate of Science from Henderson County College (1979) as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Bachelor of Arts from East Texas State University (1980) as a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Master of Education from East Texas State University (1981), Master of Library Science from Texas A&M-Commerce (2000) and was a Licensed Dyslexic Therapist for the State of Texas by earning her Language Therapy Certificate from Texas Scottish Rite.

During her lifetime, Samantha was married to Bevan Cates and Bobby Murphy. She is to be laid to rest next to her mother, Clara Naydene Roberds Leach and her son, Brett Shannon Cates whom preceded her in death.

Samantha is survived by her daughter, Tracy Cates Erwin and husband, Tim and her son, Matthew Shawn Murphy and his wife, Rachel. She had many grandchildren including Erica Furrate, Cassye Huff, Brett Erwin, Trey Erwin, Shawn Murphy, and Clara Murphy. She also was blessed to have several great-grandchildren including Charlee Huff, Dax Erwin, Klara Erwin, Channing Erwin, and Lively Furrate.

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