Graveside services for Audra Mae Murphy, 91, of Livingston, Texas, will be held Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in the Camp Ruby Cemetery in Livingston, Texas with Bro. Wayne Bickley and Bro. Rex Hendrix officiating.  A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, Texas,

Audra Mae Murphy was born May 3, 1931 in Midway, Texas to parents William Albert Dickens and Othie (Parrish) Dickens and passed away on June 20, 2022 in Jones Creek, Texas with her only daughter by her side.  She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth Murphy; and sister, Jo Ellen Keefer.

Audra would tell you that she had a hard life but also a good life.  Her mother died when she was five.  Later in life she learned that her mother died in childbirth along with Audra's baby brother.  Audra and her sister were raised by their father and grandmother, "Little Ma".

She learned to sing and play piano in the Pentecostal church as a young girl.  Church would remain an important part of her life.  She sang and played the piano at church, homecomings, revivals and funerals until her health wouldn't allow it.

She married the love of the love of her life, Kenneth Murphy on October 3, 1950. After struggling for years to get pregnant and completing the process for adoption, they had one daughter, Jo Carol, "Jody".  She was the light of their lives.

Kenneth died of a heart attack when Jody was five.  Audra wore her wedding ring and spoke fondly of Kenneth until her death.  At the end she frequently said Kenneth was coming to take her home.

After Kenneth died she accepted a kind offering for work at Big Sandy ISD where she continued to work as a special education teacher until she retired.

She was a foster mother to Melva, Lucy, Angie, James and Renee'.

Audra loved her family, friends and community.  She was giving and loyal woman.  Audra regularly cooked for families dealing with illness, death or just hard times.  Cooking, giving and being part of a community brought her great joy.

She was active at Soda Baptist Church and the embodiment of a good Christian woman.  Despite following her religious beliefs strictly, she was not judgmental and loved all.  She was firm but loving with her children, grandchildren and students.

In the end dementia took much of her personality but it shined through with her great grandchildren.  That was a joy for her family to see.

Audra is survived by her daughter, Jody Stutts and husband, George of Jones Creek, Texas; grandson, Ray Stutts, also of Jones Creek, Texas; granddaughter, Santana McMurrey and husband, Marshall of Houston, Texas; great-grandchildren, Chloe, Cole, Marshall "M.J." and Audra; along with numerous other relatives and a host of friends.

Audra Mae Murphy will be escorted to her grave by pallbearers, George Stutts, Ray Stutts, Marshall McMurrey. Martin Keefer, Darrell Murphy and Bo Treadway.

Honorary Pallbearers:  Kabe Murphy, Shannon Richardson, Paul Welch, Larry Welch and Wayne Woods.

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com .