Ross Rothermel Murphy

Ross Rothermel Murphy of Hempstead, TX, passed away peacefully the morning of February 25, 2026. Ross was born August 2, 1953, in Houston, TX, to Gerald Ross Murphy & Mary Louis Rothermel Murphy.

He graduated from Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in 1971.

He earned a BBA in Business Management from Texas Christian University in 1975, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

In 1976, Ross married Valerie Ritter; they met at TCU. Together they had three children, Erin Christina Murphy, Tara Patricia Murphy, and Ryan Rothermel Murphy.

Ross was blessed with seven grandkids, Tessa McKenna Murphy, Morgan Rothermel Murphy, Cullen McCullough Murphy, Isabel Christina Mancha, James Michael Anthony Mancha, Alexander Michael Anthony Mancha, and Zachary Michael Anthony Mancha.

After graduation from TCU, Ross went to work with Bratten Homes in Houston/Katy as Construction Superintendent and later New Home Sales. In 1980, he received a Texas Real Estate Broker’s License and started a residential real estate company with lifetime friend Rusty Clark.

In 1997, Ross married Monica Opderbeck. They met through real estate and worked together for Remax Fry Road and later Keller Williams Signature. They were long time members of Willowfork Country Club in Katy, TX.

In 2000, he founded Ross R. Murphy Property Management Services, LLC, which went on to be the top-rated property management company in Katy 5 years in a row by The Katy Times, focusing on the West Houston Energy Corridor.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Louis Frederick Rothermel, Mary Greenwell Rothermel, Francis F. Murphy, and Helen Marie Murphy; parents Gerald Ross Murphy and Mary Louis Rothermel Murphy Kister and step-mother, Penelope Conner Murphy; and beloved friend and cousin, Edward Auge Keene.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Monica Murphy of Katy, TX; by his brother Kenneth M. Murphy and wife Sue of Bellville, TX; two sisters, Helen Christina Short and husband James of Houston, TX, and Karen Murphy of Austin, TX; by his son Ryan Rothermel Murphy and wife Brianne of Boerne, TX; by daughter Tara Murphy of Texas City, TX; by daughter Erin Mancha and her husband Nathan of Fulshear, TX; and by his seven grandchildren, as well as his nieces and nephews.

Love of things: All outdoors, Hunting, Fishing, Golf & 40 years of annual Golf reunions with Fraternity Brothers.

The love of his life was Heaven on Earth to him—Rothermel Ranch in Waller County, TX, where he spent the rest of his life until he passed away at age 72.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday the 9th of May 2026 in the Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main, Brenham, TX. A reception will follow, weather permitting, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., come and go, at the Rothermel Ranch, Hempstead, TX.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to honor Ross by supporting Texas’ wild places and wild things, such as Texas Parks & Wildlife, or any organization that enriches folks with exposure to the outdoors and related pursuits, or the charity of your choice.