Obituary of Calvin Eugene Murphy

Calvin Eugene Murphy (80) of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians left home unexpectedly to fish the big lake in the sky on Friday October 18, 2024. Born on August 30, 1944 to the late Jonah and Olive M. Welch, later in life accepted into the family of Manco and Ruby Murphy. Calvin is preceded in death by his brothers, Tommy K, Johnny Thurman, Terry Welch, Kenneth Welch and sisters, Bernice Lambert and Julia Inez Welch. Pop is survived by the love of his life Vickie Reid Murphy, separated for the first time in 58 years. Calvin leaves behind his daughter, Regina L. Dardeen, two granddaughters, Bianca J. Dardeen and Zayya Harris; two very special young men, Carter E. Murphy and Richard E. Murphy. He also leaves behind his mother-in-law, Christine Reid (96), and sisters-in-law, Rhonda Ramsey, and Janice Faus. Pop leaves behind many special friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Uncle Duck Cox, Steve Terry, John D. Long, and Quentin F. He was a graduate of Carolina High School (1965). He served in the United States Army (1966-1967) during the Vietnam Era. He obtained an Associates of Applied Science Degree from Southwestern Community College, and also graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Masters Degree. He diligently served the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for 32 years, 15 of which serving as the director of the Public Works Division. He was a valuable asset to his tribe, overseeing many development opportunities for our people, his accomplishments were many. He embodied core values of Gadugi assuring the environmental health of our tribe for years and generations to come. He loved sincerely, he worked until the day he left us. Above all, he loved his family very much, this is a tremendous loss for us all. The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM Wednesday at Crisp Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations are directed towards the Fishers of Men South Carolina Upstate Division at fomntt.com