Blair MURRAY

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MURRAY: Blair. It is with great sadness that the family of Blair Marshal Murray announce his sudden passing on Monday, September 26, 2011, one day after his 53rd birthday. Blair was born September 25, 1958 in Souris, Manitoba to Florence and Ewart Murray. His elementary school years were spent in Souris before the family moved to Brandon, Manitoba when his father purchased Brandon Automobiles. Blair graduated from Vincent Massey High School and then completed a degree at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan in Business and a Teachers and General Studies degree at Brandon University. Blair spent 23 years as a teacher, counsellor and coach - touching thousands of young lives across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Teaching took him to Teulon, Manitoba, Brandon, Manitoba, Brooks, Alberta, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, Sundale, Alberta, Airdrie, Alberta, Calgary, Alberta, Wetaskawin, Alberta and finally to Red Deer, Alberta and Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School where he was teaching and coaching at the time of his passing. To say that sports was a big part of his life would be an understatement. Growing up in a family that was passionate about sports, Blair played baseball, football and hockey at a very competitive level. He played both college baseball and football at Northwood University in the United States. He continued to play baseball at a very high level in Manitoba for many years in the highly respected Manitoba Senior Baseball League with most of those years spent with the Brandon Cloverleafs. As a player and then coach, he was fortunate enough to be involved with various all-star and provincial teams. He played a baseball game only a few days before his passing with his police team friends. It is in coaching at the middle school and high school levels that he truly made an impact. He was a tireless worker and coached virtually every sport during his career from badminton, track and field, volleyball, basketball, to baseball and football. A number of times he coached more than one sport at once because he never said “no” and wanted to please and help everybody. It would be hard to imagine anybody with a busier schedule than Blair. One of his greatest joys in life was to see his student athletes succeed not only in competition but in developing into solid citizens. As busy as he was, he found time to develop great friendships with staff members at the Calgary Remand Center as a correctional officer. Something he did on free weekends from coaching and in the summer months. Blair had friends everywhere and could be counted on to assist any of his friends who needed help. He would do anything for you. Besides all of his friends and relatives, Blair will be sadly missed by sister Vivian (Paul McCarthy), brother Warren (Marlee) and brother Andy (Ruth) and families, as well as special friend Jeannie Halmo. Blair was predeceased by his mother Florence, father Ewart and sister Marilyn. Funeral service will be held on Monday, October 3rd, 1:00 p.m. at the Souris United Church. Kowalchuk Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 01, 2011