William Arthur Murphy

LAUREL PARK — William Arthur Murphy, 90, of Laurel Park, died of heart failure on Sept. 3, 2013.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he was born on Aug. 20, 1923, to the late William Murphy, Sr. and Adelaide Brewerton McLaughlin.

He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and proudly served our country for four years on a destroyer in the North Atlantic Ocean and later in the Pacific Ocean. He graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelors of science in 1952 and a master's degree in biology and horticulture in 1953. He owned and managed a commercial nursery in South Florida and sold tropical plants nationwide for 19 years. He also taught horticulture at Miami Dade Junior College for 22 years.

He and his wife moved from Miami to Hendersonville in 1990 and he spent his retirement years creating many works of art and designing a beautiful garden on the side of their mountain home.

He leaves his wife, Susan; his three daughters, Susan Mallory of Tampa, FL, Janet Stephen of Charlotte, Nancy Slayton of New Mexico; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his brother, Arthur Murphy and his sister, Mary Glaser both of Long Island, NY. He also leaves three step-daughters, Michele Vernon of Arlington, VA, Jeanne Ruddy Keen of Philadelphia, PA and Robin Ruddy Sheridan of Nashville, TN.

A private committal service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.