MURRAY JOHN MCNARLAND

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MURRAY JOHN MCNARLAND It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Murray McNarland, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Murray was the first child born to Earl and Lillian (Morden) McNarland on July 14, 1935 on the farm in McCreary, Manitoba. He lived and worked on the land with his family until moving north to Snow Lake to work in the mines. It was there that he met Suzeann Linn and in November, 1956 they married and began their own family. One of Murray's favourite activities was to travel with his young family, especially to British Columbia to visit Yellowstone Park. Murray continued to work underground in mining when they moved to Lynn Lake and the family remained there until 1972 when they moved to Neepawa, Manitoba where he drove long distance moving the mail for Canada Post. He continued to drive truck when they moved to The Pas but he didn't enjoy being separated from his family and, in 1976, when they moved back north to Leaf Rapids, he returned to mining for Sherritt Gordon. After leaving the mine, Murray worked as the manager for Northern Bus Lines where he was able to use his talent for mechanics and had space to store and work on the vintage Chevy's that he collected to restore. Murray and Suzeann lived in Leaf Rapids until her death in 1984. In December 1985, Murray married Margaret Rehman in Regina, Saskatchewan and they continued to live in Leaf Rapids until they were able to fulfill a long time dream to return to his farm roots with the purchase of their acreage outside of Garson, Manitoba where they moved in 1988. They named the land Rocky's Acres after one of Murray's beloved ponies and began to fill it with horses, dogs, chickens, John Deere tractors and the occasional duck. Family was the most important thing to Murray but he had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and he was looking forward to the birth of his seventh great-grandchild in December. The farm remained their home until Murray lost his heroic battle with cancer on June 23, 2009 in Selkirk, Manitoba surrounded by the family that he loved. Murray made friends wherever he went and had a fondness for swapping stories with friends both old and new; the coffee pot was always on in Murray's house. He was always willing to help a neighbour in need and there was hardly a farm within a five mile area that didn't have a piece of machinery that he had repaired, land he had worked, or an animal that he had cared for. Murray was predeceased by his parents, Earl and Lillian and his first wife, Suzeann. He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret; his sons and daughters-in-law, Kenneth and Sandy of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Marvin and Dorothy of Brandon, Manitoba, Darcy and Rose of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; his daughter, Jodene of Winnipeg, Manitoba; his brothers Gordon McNarland of Laurier, Manitoba, Jim McNarland and Lorne McNarland of McCreary, Manitoba; his sisters Dorella Wilson of McCreary, Manitoba and Jean Goertzen of Gladstone, Manitoba; his nine grandchildren; his six great-grandchildren; and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Murray will be dearly missed but never forgotten. The family wishes to extend their thanks to the staff at the Selkirk Hospital for the wonderful care, compassion, and respect to Murray during his final days. Prayers will be said on Friday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Sobering Funeral Chapel in Beausejour, Manitoba. Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 27, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Garson, Manitoba. Interment will be held in the fall in The Pas, Manitoba for close family and friends. Donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. SOBERING FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM, Beausejour 268-3510 or MB Toll Free 1-877-776-2220

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 26, 2009