Mr. Willard "Leroy" Murphy

October 1, 1961 - October 31, 2019

Willard LeRoy Murphy, affectionately known as “Unk,” was born October 1, 1961 to the late Oscar H. Murphy and Ella R. Salyers Bailey in Lexington, Kentucky. Leroy was called home to be with the Lord on October 31, 2019. LeRoy accepted Christ at an early age and joined Elizabeth Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky. To LeRoy, there was nothing like family. He had a heart of gold. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his family and friends. LeRoy never met a stranger. He always saw the good in others. His golden rule was simple, “If I can’t say anything good I won’t say anything at all.” Children of all ages loved and respected LeRoy to the point they called him Uncle LeRoy. LeRoy loved to cook. His favorite was wild meat. He loved to fish. Whenever and wherever music was playing, everyone knew LeRoy was dancing. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, especially his East End and Brucetown families. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandmother, Laura Salyers; grandfather, Willard Salyers; a sister, Thelma J. Coles. LeRoy leaves to cherish his memory four sisters, Carolyn (Lavelle) Banks, Carol Edwards, Rita (Leonard) Maxberry, and Teresa “Sissy” Murphy; a brother, Larry Murphy; a brother-in-law, James Coles; nieces and nephews, Cheryl Barleston, Angela Finley, James “JD” Coles, Jeffrey (Dominika) Coles, Jerome (Dawn) Coles, Garfield Starnes, Monti (Angelle) Edwards, Sean (Tia) Edwards, Damon (Shawneil) Edwards, Cary (Fanta) Wilkerson, Larry Wilkerson, Chad Wilkerson, Lashella Murphy, Imani Travis, Raja Peek, Quincy (Erika) Murphy, Theolita “Woman” Murphy; a god-brother, Derek Hughes; a god-sister, Monica Smith; special cousins, Debra “Debo” Terrell, James “Brother” Salyers, Clayton (Doris) Jones, Robert & Juanita Warner, Elmer “Fudd” Jones, Mario Warner, Antoine Jackson, and Dominic Lewis; a host of other relatives and many friends including Daryl Simpson, Tyrone Guy, Ella Mae Faulkner, Larry Sims, Kevin Mack and Jeffrey Cloyd.