Obituary of Blair Marshall MURRAY

September 25, 1958 – September 26, 2011 It is with great sadness that the family of Blair Marshall announces his sudden passing on Monday, September 26, 2011, one day after his 53rd birthday. Blair was born on September 25, 1958 in Souris, Manitoba (MB) to Florence and Ewert Murray. His elementary school years were spent in Souris before the family moved to Brandon, MB, when his father purchased Brandon Automobiles. Blair graduated from Vincent Massey High school and then completed a degree in Business at Northwood University in Midland, MI and both a Teacher’s 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 MB, Brandon MB, Brooks AB, Gull Lake SK, Sundre AB, Airdrie AB, Calgary AB, Wetaskawin AB, and finally to Red Deer AB, where he was teaching and coaching at the time of his passing. To say that sports were a big part of his life would have been an understatement. Growing up in a family that was passionate about sports, Blair participated in everything; he 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 in the highly-respected Manitoba Senior Baseball League, with most of those years spent with the Brandon Clover Leafs. 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 where 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 the time to develop great friendships with staff members at the Calgary Remand Centre, while he worked as a Correctional Officer on his 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 his sister Vivian (Paul McArthy); brothers Warren (Marlee) and Andy (Ruth) and families, as well as special friend, Jeannie Halmo. Blair was predeceased by his mother Florence, father Ewart, and sister Marilyn. In living memory of Blair Murray, a tree will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park Cochrane by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Eastside Memorial Chapel, 5388 MEMORIAL DRIVE N.E. Telephone: (403) 248-8585.