Barbara Murphy Obituary

Barbara Elizabeth Parkison "Libby" Murphy died peacefully in her sleep on April 1 at her Fort Worth home. She was 78.



Although she worked for 50 years as a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines, her favorite place was on solid ground with her daughters, her five grandchildren, her rescue Chihuahua Henry, and especially with her friends around the mahjong table. The game was a central joy of her retirement years - she played multiple times a week and found her later-in-life circle of dear friends through the game.



Libby (also known as "Barbs") was born Jan. 1, 1948, in Greenville, Miss., the daughter of the late Barbara Jane Stovall and Rivers Earl Parkison. She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Bill Haynie, and her sister, Becky Parkison McGee.



Survivors include two daughters, Shannon Murphy Haddaway and her husband James Haddaway of Fort Worth, and Kristin Murphy Flewelling and her husband Matt Flewelling of Dallas; and five grandchildren, George Rivers Haddaway and Vivian Elizabeth Haddaway, both of Boulder, Colo., Adeline Mason Haddaway of Fort Worth, and Murphy Jane Flewelling and Nora Ray Flewelling, both of Dallas.



Libby's Deep South heritage shone through in her lilting accent, her radiant smile and her mastery of the art of Southern comfort food. For each of her family members her kitchen was always open. She'd fix them their favorites such as brownies, meatloaf, deviled eggs and iced tea. Always iced tea.



She dressed with a Southern accent as well, believing leopard print, red nails and red lipstick were always in style. Fun and funky, spirited and spicy - she loved getting piercings with her granddaughters. She was also a devoted lover of musical theater, making sure her "girls" shared that love by taking them to Broadway musicals from a very young age. Her grandchildren were the loves of her life; she was a steadfast and supportive light in their lives from the moment they were born. Smiling, listening, hugging, cooking– she was always there for her family, no matter what.



Libby was a member of the Fort Worth Newcomers Club. She also spent countless hours with a different kind of newcomer – babies. She held and rocked them at the Neonatal Care Unit at Cook Children's Hospital every Wednesday. Her other babies were her cherished hummingbirds, and they were always welcome in her yard.



With Delta Air Lines, her normal flying route was between Atlanta and Frankfurt, Germany. Imagine it. She must have circled the Earth at least a thousand times in her long career, which began in 1970. She retired in 2020.



But always, despite her many miles away, home was where her heart was.



A celebration of life will be held April 20 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in the Lecture Link and Beggs Courtyard. The come-and-go gathering will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to The Archway (formerly Safe Haven) or Allie's Haven Animal Rescue.