Friends, family get together to honour William Murray
By Shella Gardezi
January 10, 2007
St. Joseph's Church was full recently as friends and family gathered to honour the life of RCMP officer William Murray who passed away in December at the age of 32.
Mr. Murray was remembered as a "selfless", "well-mannered" and "respectful" man by his younger brother, Raymond, who spoke at the event.
Officer Murray is survived by his wife, Sarah, parents, Raymond and Ellen, and brothers Michael and Raymond.
Even while in the intensive care unit, fighting cancer, William managed to "live life fully" to the end, said the younger Raymond.
"True freedom to Will, was freedom of the soul," he said, opening and closing his speech with Martin Luther King's famous words, "Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
This was one of quotations William found most inspiring as he strove to live his life with integrity.William's commitment to integrity was apparent through the writings he left behind. He compiled his writings in a book which gave family and friends a key to his unique outlook on life and beliefs.
Raymond quoted from one of the writings, which reads like an instruction manual for a life well lived.
"In a bind, always stand by your friends", "Ignore the armchair quarterbacks — they aren't even playing the same game", "You learn more from your bruises than your victory laps".
William's dedication to developing a strong character paid off in his career.
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| The Burlington Teen Tour band, including Rachel Fraser, Alie Penn, Sarah Peachey and Larissa Manojlovich, helped remember William Murray, an RCMP officer who passed away from cancer earlier this year. Mr. Murray was a member of the band in his youth. |
His close friend. Mike Ouellette. described how William competed against many more experienced, well-connected, more educated candidates to become an RCMP officer.
"They knew they had someone special," he said. "When he got the call, I had never seen him happier, until the day he graduated."
He was later promoted to the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSET).
He was liked by everyone who worked with him and he treated everyone he came across in his job with respect, said Raymond. He never complained, "not even about the lousy hand he was delivered in his illness".
In his personal life he was a devoted husband to Sarah, who he met at McMaster University. The two were "fellow caffeine freaks" who solidified their relationship as they spent many nights talking over coffee.
His parents, Raymond and Ellen Murray, were a "huge influence" in helping him develop his strong moral code, said the younger Raymond.
He also had a strong bond with his brothers, who developed their own special code — "stick together, defend each other and never, ever, tattle".
The Dec. 29 memorial service also featured members of the Burlington Teen Tour Band, a group that William was active with in his youth.
Reproduced with the kind permission of The Grimsby Lincoln News