Joshua Ryan Murphy was diagnosed at the age of 2-1/2 years with Mucopolysaccharidosis or MPS, a very rare disease affecting one in 25,000 births.  
He was expected to live 13 years. MPS took him at 21 years of age. Joshua passed away April 25, 2022.  He was born Jan. 29, 2001, in Garland to parents Stephen Ray Murphy and Ruth Margaretha Jesse Murphy.
Joshua was a vibrant, energetic, laughing, smiling child. He never met a stranger. He loved hugs, balls and hats, especially unusual hats.  
He loved jumping on the trampoline, riding his bicycle, playing with his nieces and nephews, eating and Barney.  
He could ride a skateboard at the age of two.  He loved to ride in a boat, a car, a golf cart, on jet skis or anything with wheels.  
He also loved music. his favorite song to sing was “Happy Birthday.”  
He was very social and loved school and horseback riding therapy. He graduated high school on time, at age 18. He was on the Mabank Special Panthers Special Olympics team for several years. He earned medals for track, bocce ball and bowling. He could run as fast as lightning.
His father, Steve, said before he was born, “this baby is going to be special and will touch many lives.”  We could have never fathomed how true this would become.  
Joshua was and is, loved by many people, young and old. His spirit will live on in our hearts as long as we live. He leaves a legacy of love, a precious spirit and a child-like innocence that we will always remember and treasure. No more pain, no more limitations. Run free, Joshua.
Joshua was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Al and Jean Jesse, paternal grandparents Robert and Bette Murphy, uncles Robert Murphy, Jr. and Terry Murphy and aunt Shari Huey.
He is survived by his parents, brothers Stephen Charles Murphy and wife Kathryn, Jesse Barnes Murphy and wife Danielle and Richard Wayne Murphy and wife Julia, nephews Hayden, Richard and Carter Murphy, nieces Peyton, Emily, Cattleya and Hannah Murphy and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A funeral was held April 30, 2022, at Liberty Baptist Church in Gun Barrel City. Pastors Joe Mendez with Liberty Baptist Church and Associate Pastor Rod Millsap with Living For the Brand Cowboy Church in Athens officiated for the Murphy family.
Pallbearers were Stephen C. Murphy, Jesse B. Murphy, Richard W. Murphy and Juan C. Figueroa.  Honorary Pallbearers were Cory Lewis, David Walker, James Walker, Hayden Murphy, Philip Varner and Chase Holland.
Arrangements were made at the direction of Moorhead Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.