Dr. Dara Johns
On June 30, Dr. Bryan Murphy, a well-known veterinarian in our area, passed away. Murphy graduated from Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1988 and came to our area to begin practicing. He had ties here because he grew up in the area, and attended and graduated from Niceville High School. Murphy opened a practice in Mary Esther and named it Murphy Veterinary Hospital. His practice thrived, and even though he sold it around 2011, it still bears his name and is a thriving veterinary hospital today.
When Murphy sold his hospital, he moved to Opelika, Alabama, which is just a hop over from Auburn and the College of Veterinary Medicine. When he told me he would be moving there, I told him I was so envious because it is the most beautiful place in the world to any Auburn graduate. I am glad he was able to move there and enjoy the beautiful area.
Murphy was only 66 years old. He passed unexpectedly while working in his garden. I like to think he was able to really enjoy his time in Alabama. As with many veterinarians, what began as retirement became part-time work, and then he bought a practice in Phenix City, Alabama.
Murphy was a godly man. He treasured his time with his family. He was married to his wife, Debbie, for 43 years, and had two daughters and five grandchildren whom he loved deeply. According to his obituary, he was a talented woodworker and enjoyed doing projects around the farm. I did not know this about him. I met Murphy while I was a student at the veterinary school. I was a senior and he was a junior, and we were working one of the breaks in the large-animal department. We were both working with the beef cattle unit. It was winter break and very cold, and the work was hard, but I was there because I didn’t know much about cattle, and I wanted to learn and be able to work on large animals when I graduated.
I graduated in 1987, a year before Murphy, and my path took me first to Tennessee before I moved to Niceville in 1988 and began to practice. I soon heard that a recent Auburn graduate was also working in the area. He was supposed to have a lot of knowledge about birds, and did a lot of bird work. I was surprised to hear it was Murphy. When I worked that break with him, I assumed he was very knowledgeable in large animals and had worked on farms for years. He told me later on that he had been there for the same reason I was: to get some large-animal experience. He was more of a small-animal and bird veterinarian.
While practicing in Mary Esther, he became very interested in dental medicine. This was a new field at the time, and he became sort of a local expert in veterinary dentistry. I would often send dental referrals to him if they were very involved.
Murphy’s obituary says that he demonstrated love, comfort, humility and laughter everywhere he went. This is very true. He was missed when he moved to Auburn, and he will be missed by all very much.
