Sunday, April 13, 2014

Good-bye Murray

     Today I attended a celebration of life for Murray and thought of the many things that made the man.

     I first met Murray in '97 when I started senior skating. Murray was a very active skater and influenced others to skate and have fun.

    Murray was lively, feisty and energetic. He was also kind, caring and thoughtful.

    What I really liked about Murray is that he was a great story teller.

     Murray had been a farmer all his life. He was a farmer from his boot toes to the top of his ears. Of course, his stories were farm stories. Since I was brought up on a farm I appreciated Murray's stories. It was easy to set Murray up to tell a story. Mention tractors and Murray had stories...green tractors , yellow tractors, red tractors. He had tractor stories! Mention storms and he had stories of snow storms, hail storms, wind storms, dust storms and thunderstorms. Mention crops and there were good, bad and bumper crops. Wells? He had many experiences with wells. Machinery breakdowns? He fixed them all. Cows? There wasn't any experience Murray didn't have with those darn cows.

     So these stories were about a way of life and there was always something you could learn or take away from a story. Murray's stories were descriptive and memorable.

   I mentioned Murray's story telling to his son today, and there was a big chuckle of agreement about his Dad's stories. He told me that his Dad had his first heart attack when he was 48. He said, "I don't think Dad thought he would have a long life so he lived and cherished each day that he had."

   Murray was a great example of how to face challenges and live life to the fullest.

    Murray and his stories will be missed.

    
     

32 comments:

  1. Story tellers are the ones I miss the most. My friend Ken was like that; he was a plumber by trade and even after he retired, he still went about town fixing his customers pipes, etc. Ken always had a story to tell and we would laugh with our bellies at some, if not all of them. His stories usually wound around his trade, and much like your friend Murray about the farm, except he got tangled up in plumbing. WE had many good laughs and there were always stories to share. Sorry about your friend Red.

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    1. Murray had a keen wit but his stories were very realistic.

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  2. I often feel that a tape recorder would be worth employing when a true raconteur gets into his or her flow.

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    1. I've often thought about this as I listened to Murray. Some how or other it usually turns these story tellers off.

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  3. Condolences to Murray's family and to you, his friend. You have written a wonderful post to celebrate his life. Thank you, Red.

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    1. Murray was one of those larger than life people.

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  4. My condolences to Murray's family as well, and to you my friend. It's always hard to let friends go.

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    1. Murray had a long miserable decline so it was the right thing to happen.

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  5. he sounds like a wonderful man - my kind of stories, too. :) bless his family and friends.

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  6. My sympathy Red, perhaps the stories will be passed down in his family...I bet there were lots of "remember whens " surrounding him. He sounds like he was a good friend:)

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    1. Thanks. His sons will have many things to remember about their Dad.

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  7. Awww it sounds like he was a great guy. What a lovely tribute you wrote for him. I'm so sorry that you lost a friend.

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    1. He was always interested in those around him.

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  8. These chaps’ stories should be recorded for posterity. Soon there’ll be nobody left to recall them.

    How’s about it?

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    1. Most of these old timers shut up when the tape recorder comes out.

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  9. You're an excellent writer. If you write down these stories they won't be lost.

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    1. Thanks. Each story teller has their own voice and style. The story misses something when that is missing.

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  10. The Murrays of the world are important in telling the story of us all. I did not know him, but miss him through your eyes.

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    1. His stories would certainly be similar to many other farmers of his day.

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  11. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. It sounds like he was a great man, and this is a nice tribute to him.

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  12. My dad was a storyteller and my siblings and I love to sit around and tell "Dad" stories. But none of us can tell them like he could. I think the world is poorer with the passing of every storyteller.

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  13. Sorry for your loss. We are headed to a memorial at the end of the month. Hubby's high school buddy passed unexpected and a young 48. So sad!

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  14. You write a wonderful tribute to your friend. Sorry for your loss.

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  15. So sad we reach an age now that friends and family pass away.

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  16. Due to a lot of 'hustle and bustle' I haven't been on your blog for a long time. Sorry for that Red! Finally I found some time now and I've watched your posts and I read it with a lot of pleasure.
    Thanks for being such loyal follower of my blog! :-)

    Hope you'll have a great week
    http://dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com

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  17. Always fun to remember great moments in ones life, I am famous for telling a few myself

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  18. He sounds like one of the good guys. And when my time comes I could wish for few things more than someone writing something like that about me.

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  19. I'm sorry you lost a friend. He sounded like quite a fascinating man. Farmers have great stories!

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  20. I'm so sorry you lost such a wonderful friend, Red.

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