Alex Murray (aka Gramps), father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great uncle, pulp and timber executive, singer, actor, performer, choral conductor, music director, teacher and mentor died peacefully in the presence of his children at the Prince George Hospice the morning of March 16, 2022, just 11 days shy of his 90th birthday.
He was predeceased by his beloved partner and best friend of 55 years Betty-Marie (aka Bunny, aka Gramma) Murray (nee Heath) in July of 2011. He is survived by his sister, Fran Collard (nee Murray); brother, Hugh Murray; son, Randy Murray (Rose); daughter, Judy Russell (Bill); grandsons: Andrew Russell; Matthew Russell (Anna); Christopher Murray (Annina Bergman); Nolan Murray (Natalie Illanes Nogueira); Jon Russell (Nicole); the daughter of daughter-in-law Rose, Jacquie Soares (Dane); and great-grandchildren: Henry, Greta, Everett, Phoebe, Jameson, Robin, Aidan; grandson Nolan’s step-daughter, Nayá, and three plus generations of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Alex was born on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1932, in Winnipeg, the eldest of Andrew and Florence Murray’s three children. His father Andrew was a railroad employee and following the Manitoba Flood, Andrew requested a transfer which ended up with the family relocating to Victoria, BC in 1950. Alex did some business college training and followed his father into the rail traffic and shipping profession. Alex was transferred by the CNR to Calgary in 1953, and quickly became involved in the Anglican Young People’s Association (AYPA) group at St. Stephen’s, Calgary. He made many lifelong friends in that group and one of them was a Royal Academy of Dance instructor and Ballet school owner, Betty-Marie “Bunny” Heath. They fell in love and were married at St. Stephen’s on December 30, 1954. After a winter honeymoon in Banff they set up housekeeping in Calgary and a few months later they were expecting their first child. Fast forwarding another few months, Alex was transferred to Vancouver. Alex moved to Vancouver to prep for the arrival of Bunny and the baby and in December 1955, son Randy was born in Calgary. In January of 1956, when the baby was old enough to travel, the young family were re-united in Vancouver. In 1959, the Murray’s bought their first home. It was in Richmond, BC’s Broadmoor neighbourhood and that’s where they stayed for the next 20 years. In September 1960, daughter Judy was born, and the family was complete.
Alex’s career was on a positive path, and he made the lateral movement from railroads to corporate distribution and sales in the pulp and paper industry. During the 1960s he continued on this path, most notably as Traffic Manager for Northwood Pulp, the newest of the three pulp and paper mills in Prince George, BC. For the better part of a decade Alex worked out of the Noranda Mines offices on Davie Street in Vancouver until he was promoted, moving to Prince George in December of 1978. Randy was on his own at this point and Judy then 18 moved with her parents to their new home in Prince George’s Lakewood neighbourhood where Alex remained until May of 2017. Alex retired from Northwood as Corporate Distribution Manager in 1992.
Although pulp and paper transport and sales were his career, his passion was music. As a boy chorister in Winnipeg, it was quickly recognized by choral leaders and music teachers that he was blessed with an excellent soprano voice and great musicality. Church music, specifically Anglican Church choral music was his avocation for most of his life. He possessed a rich baritone range which he always felt was a bit too “raspy” for him to have risked the uncertain outcomes of the music business. There were several young musicians in Prince George who had only known Alex following his 1992 retirement. They were surprised that he’d had a completely different career. In Vancouver, Alex sang in the Bach Choir; was the baritone soloist in the Christ Church Cathedral Choir; Director of Music at St. Alban, Richmond; founding member of the Richmond Musical Theatre Club; a founder and the first Musical Director of The Richmond Singers; resident Musical Director at Metro Theatre and much more. In Prince George, Alex was Director of Music at St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church; Director of Music, Prince George Cantata Singers; founder and Director of The Alex Murray Singers; performed in, and was musical director for several Prince George performing organizations including: The Prince George Theatre Workshop, The Prince George Symphony Orchestra and many ballets, musicals and recitals produced and directed by wife Bunny and daughter Judy for Enchainement Productions and Judy Russell Presents. Up until the pandemic in the Spring of 2020, Alex continued his lifelong love of singing and sharing the joy of singing as a vocal coach, working through daughter Judy’s school but never taking any payment for his services. The tuition went to pay the accompanists who assisted him with the coaching sessions.
Alex inspired and mentored dozens of artists, although they benefitted from his great skill as a teacher, he would always say that what he received in return from his students was far more than what they’d acquired from him. He was so proud of every one of his students, particularly his grandsons.
Alex also gave back to his profession and directly to the arts in Prince George. He served as Co-Chair of The Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, a prestigious national organization, and he served as President of The Prince George Concert Association (PGCA). During his incumbency, the PGCA dissolved, donating their financial assets to The Prince George Community Foundation to be invested, with proceeds distributed as awards and scholarships to young artists.
Although he was a person who loved the performing arts, he was also a huge fan of the Canadian Football League, totally devoted to the BC Lions, and, if the Lions were out (which was often the case from 1965-1984) he’d revert to his childhood fondness for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
His family, friends and students are so much the richer for having Alex in their lives. He will be missed not only by Prince George’s arts community but by the entire city.
A celebration of life is being planned for early summer 2022, stay tuned for details. His family and friends will get the word out.
In Alex’s memory, donations to the Bunny Murray Special Assistance fund at Enchainement Dance Studio and Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society would be much appreciated by the family.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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