MURRAY GUILD

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MURRAY GUILD Surrounded by his family, Murray Guild died Wednesday, January 15 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre after a brave seven month battle with cancer. Murray, a partner in Guild Insurance Brokers Inc. of Brandon, was born November 28, 1941 at Brandon General Hospital. The son of James and Bernice Guild, he grew up on the family farm at Forrest north of Brandon and attended schools at Clinton, Justice and Forrest. He took grade 12 at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Brandon and completed his education at United College, now the University of Winnipeg. After sampling several occupations, he found his true vocation when he became an under-writer at the Canadian Indemnity Insurance Co. in Winnipeg. The company soon transferred him to Calgary and he acquired even more expertise in underwriting when he joined Reed Stenhouse Co. and moved to Edmonton with his wife Joanne. In 1976, he temporarily left insurance when he had an opportunity to resume farming at Forrest with his father and brother Alan. He was also assistant manager of the Brandon Fair Board before he established Guild Insurance in January, 1990 with five partners, including brothers, Neil and Darryl Andrews who remain with the 14 year old company today. He and his partners developed Guild into one of the largest Manitoba insurance brokerage firms outside Winnipeg. With 25 employees at two locations, the company has focused on providing the best insurance choices for its clients, creating employment and acting as a good corporate citizen by supporting community projects. Over the course of 10 years, Murray served as president, vice president and director of marketing, acquiring a reputation for his wealth of insurance knowledge and absolute honesty. Active in industry affairs, he was a past director of the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba and involved in other insurance related organizations. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 40 years Joanne, a medical laboratory technologist whom he met at Clear Lake on the May long weekend in 1963. They raised two children, Daina Roberts (Ralph), of Forrest, and Jamey (Kristin) of Brandon. His two grandchildren are Aydyn and Degan Roberts of Forrest. Also surviving are his brother Alan (Wilma) of Kelowna, BC; his sister Janice (Roger) of Gimli, MB; two brothers-in-law, Bill Morgan of Caledonia, ON, and Dave Wiebe of Winnipeg; plus numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Betty and Elaine. Murrays hobbies over the years ranged from sports and music to motorcycle riding and woodworking. He played senior football for Elmwood Colts in Winnipeg and was also a curling devotee. His real passion, however, was for golf and clients would sometimes find him lining up putts on a mat in his office. He had considerable talent as a golfer, which prompted him to test his skills on the best courses from Manitoba to Myrtle Beach and in Florida and Texas. Equally enjoying the camaraderie of the game, he was called "Papa Smurf" by his golfing pals because he was often the veteran of the group. Murray will always be remembered by family and friends for his warm heart, his capacity for friendship and keen wit. Happy Trails, old pardner, to somebody who joked that he had gone to school with Roy Rogers. Funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, January 18 at 4:00 p.m. at Central United Church, 327 8th St., Brandon. Rev. Barbara Jardine will officiate. A private family interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Murray may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 415-1st St., Brandon, MB R7A 2W8; the Manitoba Lung Association, 8-940 Princess Ave., Brandon, MB R7A 0P6; or the Brandon Regional Health Foundation "Palliative Care", 150 McTavish Ave. East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B3. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com Arrangements are in care of Brockie Donovan, 727-0694.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 18, 2003