STEPHEN, Murray Earl
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Murray Earl Stephen. Born in St. Marys, Ontario on March 3rd, 1943, died March 25th 2016, at the age of 73 from complications of pneumonia. Predeceased by his parents Earl and Ethel (nee Hodge), lifelong residents of St. Marys, Ontario. Murray is survived by his wife Kathleen (nee Lavery) of Burlington, and his children Daniel and wife Leslie of Port Credit, Brian and his wife Susan of Burlington, Sharon and her husband Chris Hollingsworth of Burlington. Grandfather of Nicholas, Bradley, Thomas, Jeffrey, Ty , Eric, Olivia, Julia and Brady. Murray is survived by his five brothers, Barry and Grace of Beachburg, Burns and Gail of Delhi, Ross and Sue of Burlington, Roger and Brenda of St. Marys and Don and Donna of St. Marys. After a short illness, Murray passed away peacefully in his sleep. Born on a farm in the small town of St. Marys outside of London, he grew up surrounded by a large and rambunctious family. Murray started playing hockey at a young age outdoors, and this passion would continue to define his life. He played for his hometown, St. Marys Lincolns, the second oldest Junior B team in all of Ontario. He was part of the 1962-63 Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League team that went on to win the all Ontario Sutherland Cup. From there Murray was the first local player to receive a scholarship to play hockey at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. In his rookie year he played 22 games and scored 17 goals and had 13 assists as a winger and had a successful career with the Cornell Redmen, winning the ECAC and the NCAA titles. While at Cornell he met and married Kathleen of Larchmont, New York. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1966, but was not able to play due to a shoulder injury. After graduating from Cornell, Murray and Kathleen moved to Napanee, Ontario where Daniel was born. Murray worked for various conservation authorities and then moved to Hanover, Ontario where Brian was born. Murray played for the Durham Huskies winning the Ontario Intermediate B championship in 1969. He finally settled in Burlington, where Sharon was born. Murray worked 28 years for the Halton Region Conservation Authority, where he rose to General Manager, overseeing Mountsberg, Crawford Lake, Rattlesnake Point, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Mount Nemo and Glen Eden. As his children grew, Murray passed along his love of sports and hockey. He coached both his sons under the BLOMHA rep hockey system and he would continue to coach after his sons outgrew the association. His love for hockey was passed on to his grandchildren and he would continue to run into adults who he had coached many years earlier as children. After retirement, Murray kept busy with his grandchildren, woodworking, and being a friendly neighbour to anyone he could lend a hand to. His memory will live on through his kids and grandkids. Visitation at SMITH’S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of QEW), BURLINGTON (905-632-3333), on Tuesday April 5 from 3-5 and 7-9 pm. Private Funeral Service at a later date. Interment Burlington Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Canadian Tire Jump Start program to give kids a sporting chance, would be sincerely appreciated by the family.