MURRAY KEITH

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MURRAY KEITH On October 20, 2007 after spending a glorious day in the bush with friends and family gathering wood, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Frederick Murray Austin Keith died suddenly at home. Murray was born August 22, 1940 in Carman to Fred and Betty Keith and spent his early years on the family farm in Roseisle where he developed an abiding love for the land. Following the death of his father when he was only 12, he and his mother moved to Winnipeg where he completed his schooling. In January of 1962, he married Willa North. He then went to work for Centra Gas in Winnipeg where he remained for 35 years. During these years he also started the Birch Ski Area at Roseisle with his brother Doug. He had a special love for skiing and every spring took his family on a ski vacation. This tradition continued with his grandchildren even after a stroke prevented him from participating on the slopes. He played golf, curled, fished and hunted. Since a cardiac arrest in 1996 forced early retirement, the last eleven years have been the happiest of his life. He returned to his beloved hills of Roseisle and enjoyed planting trees, wandering the hills and bush and putting around on his golf cart with his two faithful canine buddies, Trixie and Hamish. After a hard days work puttering around he often ended up at the Altamont Hotel where he entertained and was entertained by the regulars. He and Willa spent part of their winters down South, particularly in Laughlin, Nevada but ranging as far as Texas. He also enjoyed playing crib Sunday nights with his old friend, Lawrence Skwara and Thursdays at the Legion with Jim MacKenzie where they ended last year as champions. But the highlight of his year was always his annual fishing trip with great buddies, brothers-in-law Bruce and Blake North and faithful friend Mel Ham. Murray was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Betty Keith and his nephew Eric Aikins. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 45 years, Willa and his two sons, Cheynne (Lori) and Stuart as well as beloved grandchildren, Ryan (Danielle) and Stephanie, his sister Joan Aikins (Gordon) of Drumheller and his brother Doug of Roseisle. He is also survived by his goddaughter Shelly Lynn Skwara of California, his mother-in-law Dorothy North of Carman, his sisters-in-law, Marilyn Clearwater and Karen Funke of Carman, his brothers-in-law, Bill North (Marilyn) of Roseisle, Blake North (Racille) of Wawanesa and Bruce North (Odette) of St. Norbert and aunt Alice Keith of Winnipeg and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the EMS teams from Miami and Carman and especially the R.C.M.P who responded from Morden and Carman and treated us with extraordinary dignity and compassion. Funeral service and reception will be held on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Carman United Church. in Carman, MB. Donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited, P.O. Box 1160, Stonewall, Manitoba, R0C 2Z0. Doyle's Funeral Chapel of Carman in care of arrangements. (www.doyleschapels.com)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 23, 2007