It is with immense sadness that we announce Murray’s passing on April 9th, 2017 at the age of 68. Murray leaves behind his adoring wife, Jane, his daughters, Kristy Corcoran (Pete), Jennifer Dalton (Mike) his grandchildren, Aidan and Keeley Dalton, Jillian and Maya Corcoran, his mother Janet Finlay, sister Janet Mana (Mike), brother, Bob Finlay, sister-in-law Jill Desimone (Sam) and very special nephews on both sides of the family.
Murray grew up in Trail, B.C. where he and Jane met and where he played many victorious seasons of hockey. After they married, Murray and Jane lived in Vancouver, where Murray attended Langara College while Jane finished her nurse’s training at St. Paul’s, where Kristy was born. Following that, Murray completed a B.A. in Psychology at UVIC, and also played a season for the Victoria Cougars. In 1973, having finished his training with the provincial Probation Services, Murray, Jane and Kristy moved north to Burns Lake, where Jennifer was born. After 6 years in the North they relocated to Kamloops in 1979. Murray’s career took new directions as he moved from Probation Services to the BC Board of Parole and finally, to the High Valley Youth Custody Centre where he served as the Director from 1992 until 2002. During those years, Murray became a dedicated long-distance runner, completing the Royal Victoria Marathon twice. In 1998 and again in 2003, Murray was awarded the prestigious Corrections Exemplary Service Award by the Governor General of Canada.
Diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2002, Murray faced cancer head-on for 15 years. Between the many cycles of treatment, he and Jane travelled the world and continued to build years of wonderful memories with their family and growing grandchildren, and with their many close friends. If the true value of a life can be measured by the impact one makes on those around him, Murray’s life was truly exceptional. He was a man of quiet strength and great dignity and thanks to the Medical Assistance In Dying program (M.A.I.D.), Murray was able to die the way he lived. He was profoundly loved and he will be profoundly missed.
Special thanks to Dr. Shirley Sze, Dr. Miranda duPreez, Dr. Tamara Shenkier, Dr. David Sanford, Dr. Eric Haywood-Farmer and Kristen Tozer, the many wonderful people at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, the Kamloops Cancer Clinic, the IV Therapy staff, and the nurses at the Kamloops Community Clinic. In lieu of flowers, donations in Murray’s name can be made to the Terry Fox Foundation.
A celebration of Murray’s life will be held at 1:00 pm on June 24th, 2017 in the Terrace Room at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.