Reginald Fleming Murphy

Reginald (Reg) Fleming Murphy, age 93, passed away peacefully April 15, 2025 at his residence, Dominion Senior Living in Crossville, TN. He was born March 10, 1932, in Cambridge,Maryland, to Lawrence and Myrtle Murphy. Reg was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, to whom he was married for nearly 70years; and by his younger brother, Raymond Murphy.

Reg is survived by two sisters, Lois Hurley, East New Market, MD and Carole Brittingham, Salisbury,MD. He is also survived by his daughter Karen Murphy McDonald, Spartanburg, SC; his son Rick Murphy, Rugby, TN; his two grandchildren, Kate McDonald, Baltimore, MD, and Seth McDonald, Grand Rapids, MI; and his great-grandson, Willem.

Reg graduated from Vienna High School on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. From his youth he exhibited a keen mind and a gift for finding business opportunities. He had a farmer’s heart and enjoyed their company. His understanding of their life contributed to his success as a salesman and,later, as a manager in the agricultural fertilizer and chemical industry. 

During his career he served farmers in Delaware, Virginia, South Carolina, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

When he and Mildred returned to Maryland late in his career, they planted and nurtured a 300-treepeach orchard on their farm at Peter’s Creek. The high quality of their peaches – they inspected each one they sold – gained them a reputation from Baltimore to Ocean City.

In retirement Reg and Mildred moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, where Reg’s passion for gardening enriched his neighborhood and his church, Covenant Presbyterian. At Covenant, where he served as an elder, he and Mildred created a beautiful garden to welcome those who worshiped there. Reg also found great joy participating in Good Samaritan Ministries, helping those in need.

While living at Dominion Senior Living in Johnson City, Reg received the Gardener of the Year Award(at the age of 92) for his care of the community’s raised beds. In his last years, he became known for generously sharing potted flowers with his visitors and caregivers.

In June of 2024 Reg moved to Dominion Senior Living in Crossville, TN for memory care.

The family would like to thank Reg’s deeply loving caregivers at Dominion Senior Living in Crossville and the kind folks at Caris Healthcare for their commitment to his spiritual and physical well-being over these last days and months.

The family invites memorials to:Covenant Presbyterian Church, 603 Sunset Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604 (online at https://cpcjc.org)Historic Rugby, TN (online at historicrugby.org)

The family wishes to thank Thomas Funeral Home of Cambridge, MD for their gracious support.

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