East Texas

Mary Ellen Murphy Hall, the wife of longtime U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, passed away at her home Wednesday morning at the age of 83.

Mr. and Mrs. Hall would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this November.

They married on Nov. 14, 1944 the same day Hall received his Navy pilot wings.

Hall recalled the highlight of his life in a 2000 interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph as the day "when I got my wings one morning in Pensacola and that afternoon I got my Mary Ellen."

Mrs. Hall was a world traveler, but Rockwall, where the Hall's moved after World War II to raise a family was her favorite place. The couple raised three sons, Ralph Hampton Hall, Brett Allen Hall, and J. Blakeley Hall and Mrs. Hall treasured the times spent loving and caring for her grandchildren.

Mrs. Hall graduated with honors from Kaufman High School and from Texas A&M Commerce with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in speech and drama.

She was a member of the First Methodist Church where she taught the Friendship Class for many years and participated as a group leader for Bible Study Fellowship, an international group of Biblical scholars.

Hall, who continues to represent the 4th District of Texas, a beloved "blue dog" (conservative) Democrat -- and now Republican convert -- spent 12 terms serving a portion of Smith County in 24 years.

State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R - Tyler, said Hall's success as a representative of his district, state and nation were directly linked to his wife's unwavering support.

"She was just an incredibly gracious, kind person," Eltife said. "The kind of wife of a public servant that puts just as much time in to serving the people as their husband."

Eltife said Hall was a great congressman for the region and that so much of the credit should be given to his wife and that Hall would agree with that assessment.

"We will miss her," Eltife said. "Our thoughts and our prayers go out to Mr. Hall and the family during this time."

Services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church in Rockwall. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Chapel.

Mary Ellen Murphy Hall
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