John gained his wings on August 30,2022. He was born to Ralph and Martha Murphree on February
16,1965 in Garland, Tx. They moved to East Texas when John was 10 years old. At 11 years old, on a dare
at Wheeler Rodeo Arena John discovered the world of bull riding. At 16 while attending Bullard High
School John joined the East Texas Rodeo Association. By seventeen, he had become the Bull Riding
Champion of the Association. His senior year in 1983 he went to Douglas, Wo. to compete in the
National High School Rodeo. That was the beginning of a long bull riding career. His dream was to go pro
eventually.
John was a painter by trade. If you worked with him on a job, you knew you better do it right the first
time or he would tell you how to paint it from the next room over, without ever looking at your work.
John is proceeded in death by his father Ralph, Mother Martha Langford, and Stepfather Bobby (B.J.)
John is survived by his wife Kathy, Brothers Donny Murphree, David and Carl Langford and Sister Cathy
Sharp. Son at heart Lukas Hightower and numerous nieces and cousins. And we can not forget his
precious fur babies Daisy, Duchess, Bear and Pebbles.
A celebration of life will be September 10,2022 at 7075 FM 314 N Brownsboro, Tx at 4:00pm