Sydney West Murphy

Sydney West Murphy passed away Saturday morning November 3 in her home in El Dorado, Ark., after a years-long struggle with neurological degeneration. She was with her ever-present love, partner, compatriot, husband, and friend Michael W Murphy. Born in San Antonio, Texas, March 10, 1950 to Betty Warren West and Bill Gene West, she grew up in El Dorado, Ark. She attended University of Arkansas, where she studied French and was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She married Michael W Murphy on April 3, 1971 in El Dorado, Ark. Through the course of their life together, they lived in Arkansas, Colorado, and South Carolina. Sydney began a career in the 1970s designing jewelry for prominent fashion designers of the day, and studied interior design to open her own interior design business that spanned four decades and grew to have a substantial international presence. Her mission was to find and bring out beauty and joy everywhere she was called to be. Sydney lived a life marked with a deep intensity for love and passion for truth and beauty, which was inherent in everything she did. Her personal, family, professional, spiritual lives reflected the inherent intensity for love and passion for truth and beauty. She was actively engaged throughout her life in pursuits both philanthropic and otherwise ranging from South Arkansas Arts Center to the Salvation Army to a host of social causes near and dear to her heart. In each one, her heart was one towards mission. She was also gifted with an unwavering dedication to see honesty, truth, and beauty in those around her. She spent inordinate time and energy to encourage, support, and yes even cajole those she cared about and loved to live into the fullness of whatever was before her. As a true student of life, Sydney had an unquenchable desire to explore and learn new things, challenge herself and those around her to always be the best that was possible. She traveled extensively, always with her husband who she called her best companion and partner. She was always eager to explore new places and experiences, fearlessly taking on the unknown and creating a sense of home wherever she was. Her zest for life was shared with everyone she met, and her showering her intensity and depth of commitment and caring for every relationship be it personal, professional, or spiritual was the gift she ultimately gave to us all. Sydney is survived by her husband, Michael W Murphy, her two sons, Michael W Murphy II and Wade Murphy, godchildren, Laura West Soltau and Sydney Cobb, and a loving family. A funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church in El Dorado, Ark. on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 2 p.m. In Lieu of Flowers, donations in her name to South Arkansas Arts Center or Salvation Army are appreciated. An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.