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Richard Blair Murray, beloved husband of Ann Murray, of the Magrath Diamond Willow Terrace, passed away on February 12, 2020, at the age of 88 years in Magrath’s GSS Garden Villa. He is the loving father of 6 children: David (Glenys) Murray of Barnwell, Alberta; Lyn (Rudy) Montes of Garden Grove, California; Noel (Chris) Hillmer of Lethbridge, Alberta; Harold (Lori) Murray of Magrath, Alberta; Larry (Becky) Murray of Magrath, Alberta; and Scott (Shu Chih) Murray of Irvine, California. His expanding posterity has now grown to more than 60 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On Monday, February 24, family and friends are invited to meet Blair’s family at the Garden Place Chapel in Magrath from 12-12:50, with funeral services at 1:00pm. Blair’s Interment in the Magrath Cemetery will directly follow the funeral services.
Blair was predeceased by his father and mother, William Barton Murray and Elsie Elizabeth (Clifton) Murray; his brother’s, Harold and Ken Murray; two granddaughters, Dorothy Ann and Kiana Murray; and many other loved ones.
Blair was born May 21,1931 in the Galt Hospital in Lethbridge, Alberta. In his earliest years, he lived on the family farm in Diamond City. His father passed away unexpectedly July 3, 1936. The family stayed on the farm. In 1942 he moved to Magrath with his mother to the original Murray family home to be closer to his Clifton grandparents.
In 1950, Blair graduated from Magrath High School. From 1952-1954, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Africa. Upon his return, he was called as a stake missionary and met (Mary) Ann Davies. On June 15, 1955, Ann became his wife for “time and all eternity”. They enjoyed nearly 65 precious years together.
Other than his family, one of his greater passions was working with young men in the Scouting program which continued into his mid sixties.
In 1970, Blair and family relocated from Edmonton to the Magrath area where he became a small farmer specializing in the production of very rich cream from his Jersey and Simmental cattle, plus a few crops.
Blair worked much of his career as a draftsman and a technical problem solver. He often referred to himself as, “a jack of all trades and a master of none”. He enjoyed many things: building things, gardening (on a large scale), his cows, and being of service to others. Blair also derived much pleasure through his photography and eagerly shared the moments he had preserved. In later years, Blair and Ann served a mission for their church in Nauvoo, Illinois.
He will be greatly missed by his family and honored by his posterity for the heritage and legacies he left with them!
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Blair Murray, please visit our floral store.