William Adair Murff Jr

July 9, 1926 - June 20, 2015

Funeral services for William Adair Murff, Jr., 88, of Houston, will be held at Day Funeral Home in Madisonville, Texas on Friday, June 26th, at 12:00PM. Visitation is at 11:00AM prior to service. Interment will follow at Gum Springs Cemetery in Flynn, Texas. William was born July 9, 1926 near Flynn, Texas to William Adair, Sr. and Janie (Rae) Murff and passed away in Houston on June 20th, 2015. He was the eldest (and only son) of the couple’s five children, and his four sisters are: Inez (Riley), Cecil Rae (Berry), Esther (Byrd) and Pat (Little). William, also known as “W.A.” or “Bill” to friends and family, finished grade school and high school in Flynn. Shortly thereafter, in July 1944, he joined the Navy and served as a signalman aboard a troop carrier in WWII. He received an early discharge in 1945 when he learned that his father had been killed in a work-related accident. Back in Texas, Bill worked various jobs before accepting a position at Phenix Dairy in Houston. It was there that he met the love of his life, Albina Ann Lipinsky (nicknamed “Eileen”). They were married on December 31, 1946 and settled in Houston. Bill and Eileen’s only child, Thomas Allen Murff, was born on November 3, 1952 in Houston. By the 1960’s the family often spent weekends in the country, building a cabin on the land they had purchased near Normangee, TX. In 1967 they moved from Houston to Normangee and Bill changed his occupation to that of a carpenter and home builder. He continued in this vocation until his retirement in 1995. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and golf and even played the guitar in various bands over the years. In 2000, Bill became seriously ill due to an adverse reaction for an arthritis treatment which resulted in severe short term memory loss. Following his lengthy hospitalization, they moved back to Houston, needing assistance from their son and daughter-in-law. They lived in Spring Branch Townhomes for a number of years, where Eileen cared for Bill until June 2011, when he became a resident at The Cottage of Spring Branch. William was preceded in death by his parents; and his loving wife Eileen. Survivors include his son Tom Murff and wife Marjie of Houston; two grandsons, Jonathan Murff and wife Leslie of Fort Collins, Colorado and Jason Murff of Houston; Bill’s four sisters, Inez, Cecil Rae, Esther and Pat; plus numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation or to the church or charity of your choice.