Helen Murphy

Helen Marie Murphy, 85, of Fort Worth, Texas went home to be with her Lord and Savior on January 8, 2023.

Helen was born the eldest of three children to Irene and Everett Wilkerson on February 28, 1937 on a small farm in Paris, Texas. The family resided in the Clarendon and Lelia Lake area in the Panhandle of Texas. Helen had a rural country upbringing and relished the simple country life, her church, cosmetology, and spending time with family and friends.

Helen met Leroy Todd in Clarendon, Texas and they were married January 22, 1955. Leroy joined the Air Force and Helen became a strong military spouse as she raised their two children, Linda, and Steve. During their time in the military, the family moved to Bermuda, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Iran, Kansas, Michigan, and Florida. During this time Helen pursued an education in cosmetology. After twenty plus years of dedicated military service, Leroy and Helen made Benbrook their home. After a 24-year marriage, Helen and Leroy divorced. Helen remained in Benbrook where she worked at a skilled nursing facility and became an active member of South Park Baptist Church.

In 1979, Helen met Matt Murphy in Denver, Colorado while attending her daughter's wedding. The two quickly became inseparable and shortly thereafter Matt moved to Benbrook to start his life with Helen. Matt and Helen Murphy were married and moved to the Fort Worth area where they resided for 25 years until his passing in 2009. Since his passing, Helen lived independently at The Vantage at Cityview, in Fort Worth.

Helen wanted to be remembered for how God worked in her life and the God-given gifts she received that enabled her to serve marginalized children, the elderly and the disabled. She will be remembered as a woman who had a servant’s heart who loved the Lord and aspired to serve others through volunteering. She felt very fortunate and blessed to have had a wonderful life with her family, close relatives, and friends. Helen would not want anyone to mourn her loss as her dream of eternal life with Christ has commenced.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Vantage at Cityview for assisting Helen with her desire to remain independent, the Benbrook and Fort Worth Police Departments, and Tarrant County Social Services. In lieu of flowers, please give to your nearest charity that helps with the needs of under-served children, the elderly, disabled, and the homeless.

Helen is survived by her sister, Billie Webb of Mullin, Texas; sister-in-law, Cleta Klepper (Wilkerson) of Plain View, Texas; daughter, Linda Bilodeau (Todd) of Cary, North Carolina; son, Steven Todd (Lisa) of Kemp, Texas; four granddaughters, Stephanie Todd of Dimmitt, Texas, Sara Bilodeau of Raleigh, North Carolina, Robin Bilodeau of Winston Salem, North Carolina and Lauren Vitale of Fort Worth, Texas; seven great-grandchildren; and other close relatives.

Memorial Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, January 28, 2023 at South Park Baptist Church, Fort Worth.  Graveside Service: 1:00 p.m., Sunday, January 29th at Citizens Cemetery, Clarendon, Texas.