Jerry Bryan Murphy, 98, of Jacksonville, IL, died Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, at Heritage Health. He was born June 27, 1924, in West Frankfort, the son of Zephia and Nina Belle Gibson Murphy. He married Margaret Louise Dobson on Dec. 27, 1948, and she preceded him in death Dec. 8, 1994. He is survived by daughters Sue Ellen Shanahan (Jerry Shanahan, deceased), Mary Jane Murphy Thomas, and Grace Ann Murphy Doolin. He was preceded in death by a son, Patric Michael Murphy. He had many grandchildren and great grandchildren: Audrey Lorraine Moore Burnett and her daughter Amie Madelyn Burnett, Kathryn Erin Shanahan, Kelsey Marie Shanahan, Kacy Colleen Shanahan Wallsmith (Matthew Ray Wallsmith) and their sons Adler Cole Wallsmith and Holder Owen Wallsmith, Randall Michael Murphy, Jessica Marie Murphy Stepka (Joe Stepka), Emily Louise Thomas Hall, Sarah Nell Thomas Graham (Shad Joseph Graham) and their son Izac Joseph Graham (Payton Leigh Horton Graham), and their daughter Hailey Elena Graham, Alexis Murphy Payne (Michael Lynn Payne) and their sons Franklin Murphy Payne and Henry Harold Payne. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their children, and a daughter in spirit, Marge Coufal, longtime housekeeper and friend. Jerry enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, swimming, golf, rockhounding, jewelry making, traveling, books, and movies. He was active in the Jacksonville Family Campers Club and served in several elected positions. He was also a member of the Jacksonville Sportsman Club and Lincoln Earth Orbit Society. He was a graduate of Illinois College, and had taught at North Jacksonville Elementary and Franklin Elementary Schools, both in Jacksonville, retiring in 1985 after teaching for 35 years. He was also a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps. A private family service will be held, with burial at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Jacksonville Public Library. A Celebration of Life gathering will be announced at a later date. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com. .