Kelly Murphy, 42, was found dead at his residence on Aug. 13 by his partner, Jim Walker.
A graduate of University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., Murphy was creative director at Mary Kay Cosmetics.
He was born in Sheridan, Wyo. and has mostly lived in Dallas for most of the past 20 years. During that time, he was art director at Dallas Voice for about five years. He was a member of Spectrum Motorcycle Club and UCC Cathedral of Hope. Kelly was active for years in the Dallas leather community. He enjoyed gardening, travel and reading, and loved riding his motorcycle. Aside from Walker, the love of his life was a little silver tabby cat named Tango.
Murphy loved the beach and once lived in Miami.
He is survived by Jim Walker, his partner of 10 years; his parents, Roxy and Steve Novotny of Fort Collins, Colo., and Blaine and Cassie Murphy of Sheridan, Wyo.; sister and brother-in-law, Stacy and Brad Bledsoe, sister, Rachel Novotny, brother Sean Murphy and nephew Jaxon Ryan Novotny.
A memorial service at Cathedral of Hope is pending.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 15, 2014.