ROBERT DONALD (GRANT) MURRAY

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ROBERT DONALD (GRANT) MURRAY Peacefully on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at Lions Personal Care Centre, after 93 long and fulfilling years of life. Grant was born in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, August 2, 1914, of Scottish parents and immigrated to Canada as young boy of seven via Ellis Island, USA. The family ended up in Winnipeg because it was so conveniently located in the centre of Canada. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Bill, sisters Pat and Lex and Innes, stepbrother Sandy and half sister Jean. He was also predeceased by his first wife of 32 years, Kathleen (Kitty) in 1973. He is survived by his second wife of 31 years, Kathleen (Kelso), sons Phil (Lynda) and Kent (Barbara), grandchildren Grant (Liz), Leigh (Peter) and Mike; great- grandson Henry (Currie) of Minneapolis and great-granddaughters Maggie Joy (Murray) and Lily Kathleen (Currie). He is survived by a stepbrother, Les Ogilvie of Florida. Grant's formative years were in Winnipeg and Grand Beach. He attended Principal Sparling and Daniel MacIntyre Schools as a boy, later Success Business College, and earned Certified Industrial Management Certificate from the University of Manitoba. His earliest work experiences included time in Canadian wilderness bush camps during the Depression and later, as a credit manager for various firms. He went on to become President and Dean of the Canadian Credit Institute, and he was also a committed member and Past Master of the Fort Garry Masonic Lodge and a member of the Subbar Shrine Temple in Tucson, Arizona, and the Interlake Shrine Club in Gimli, Manitoba. He served as a Captain in the Canadian Army in the Second World War from 1941 to 1946 and was stationed in Labrador for much of that time. Following his retirement in 1979, Grant and Kathleen enjoyed a very busy and happy life together with travel and friends, divided between Benson, Arizona, Victoria Beach, Gimli and later Winnipeg. Kathleen's energy never permitted much grass to grow beneath their feet, and resulted in more than 30 years together of love, fun and fulfillment in what really were the golden years of their 60s, 70s and 80s. Grant was a quiet, gentle man whose truly great joys in life were family and friends. He was accepting of, and remarkably content with, everything that life brought him, and his calm and gentlemanly manner quietly earned him the respect, friendship and love of a very wide circle of friends and family. One of his great passions and joys in life was fishing, and he enjoyed countless hours in the solitude and beauty of the Canadian wilderness (as well as enjoying the stories, ribbing and the Bristol Cream Sherry in the back of the cabin after the fishing was over). He was a charter member of the Magnificent Seven Fishing Club along with fellow geriatrician Bill Smith, his sons Phil and Kent, and fellow fishermen Hugh Smith, Brian Tinkler, Edgar Rivalin and Jim Irving. He loved to carve wood, golf, curl, hike in the woods, read Kahlil Gibran, play bridge, or just sit and listen to the birds at Victoria Beach. Truly an uncommon, common man, whose unassuming life quietly inspired many friends and all his family. Grant - Dad - Grandpa - Great-Grandpa, we love you and will miss you dearly. Thanks to the staff of Lions Manor Personal Care Centre for the wonderful care extended over the past two and a half years. A memorial service to celebrate his life and his friendship will be held on Monday, February 11 at 1:00 p.m. at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Avenue, Aubrey Street entrance. All are invited to attend, share some stories and memories, and celebrate his life. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 09, 2008