Ronnie Elbert Murphy passed away on July 23, 2026. He was 81 years old.Ronnie was born May 4, 1945, in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of the late Clarence and Lorene
Murphy. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Clarence Lester “Bitty” Murphy, and his
nephew, Scott Alan Murphy.
Survivors include his wife, Jayne Ann Murphy of Athens, Alabama; a brother, Larry Murphy of
San Antonio, Texas; and a sister, Cheryl Murphy Vignola and her husband, Michael Vignola, of
Venice, Florida. He is also survived by two daughters, Shannon Murphy Haddaway and her
husband, James Haddaway, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Kristin Murphy Flewelling and her
husband, Matt Flewelling, of Dallas, Texas; five grandchildren, George Haddaway and Vivian
Haddaway, both of Boulder, Colorado, Adeline Haddaway of Fort Worth, Texas, and Murphy
Jane Flewelling and Nora Flewelling, both of Dallas, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
He also leaves behind three sons he loved as his own, Ryan Higginbotham and his wife,
Dianne, of Madison, Alabama, Alex Higginbotham of Madison, Alabama, and Chase
Higginbotham of Athens, Alabama, along with five grandchildren he loved just the same,
Madeline, Palmer, George, Henry and Harrison Higginbotham.
Ronnie had a personality as big as the state of Texas, where he spent most of his life. He never
met a stranger. Whether he was waiting in line at the grocery store, filling up his car at the gas
station, or striking up a conversation with whomever happened to be standing next to him, he
had a gift for making people feel like old friends within five minutes. He loved his country and
was just as proud of his Irish heritage, and would happily talk your ear off about either one.
He developed a love of airplanes early on and carried that passion into the sky with the U.S.
Army, serving in the 101st Airborne Division from 1963 to 1966. It was there that his fascination
with fighter planes first took hold, a fascination that never left him. That love carried him into
aviation, and his career began with Delta Air Lines in 1967. He retired from Delta in 1979 to
chase a different dream, launching into a career in the car business that included owning his
own international car dealership. Ronnie had a true entrepreneurial spirit, and he built success
across more ventures over the years than most people could count, bringing the same hard
work and determination to every one of them.
Ronnie loved nature and never turned down a chance to travel and see more of it. He was an
avid hunter and fisherman, though he was just as happy telling a good story on the porch as he
was out in the woods before sunrise. He also loved good food, and he loved cooking it even
more, always happiest in the kitchen making something for the people he loved. He never
missed a chance to turn on Elvis, and he’d sing along and dance around like nobody was
watching, audience or not.
But more than airplanes, more than cars, more than the outdoors, Ronnie’s family was his
greatest love. He was a steadfast presence in the lives of his daughters, his grandchildren, and
the sons and grandchildren he loved as his own, generous with his heart and his time, and he
made certain everyone around him knew just how much they were loved.
Ronnie and Jayne Ann had first dated back in the 1960s, and life brought them back together
decades later when they reconnected during the Covid pandemic. That reunion brought Ronnie
to Athens, Alabama, in 2021, and the two were married for five years. Since moving to Athens,
Ronnie had been a member of First Methodist Church.
Ronnie was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many. He left his
mark on everyone he met, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 4, at 10 a.m. at Limestone Chapel, followed by a service
at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Huntsville Memory Gardens.
