Obituary of John Leonard Murray

MURRAY, John Leonard, River John – John Leonard Murray passed away peacefully at the Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital in Tatamagouche on September 19, 2023, holding his loving wife, Bonnie Murray’s hand. John, age 92, was born in River John on June 7, 1931. He served twenty-five years in the Canadian Armed Forces with missions including the Korean War, NATO operations and multiple United Nations Peacekeeping tours in the Middle East. After the Armed Forces, John spent over a decade as the Chief Building Engineer for some of Calgary’s tallest buildings. With a deep ingrained passion for his hometown, John retired 37 years ago and returned to River John to start a new adventure with his bride. Not following the conventional definition of retirement, John and Bonnie dove into their new stage of life creating a sheep ranch, the Parsonage Tea House, four full home renovations, along with many initiatives that have become integral in the community. As a proud Korean War Veteran, John became actively involved as an executive in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 108, River John. A path that Bonnie passionately partnered with him for many years. John is survived by his wife, sister, three sons, two daughters, 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The last steps of this life can be a challenge for both the person walking them and their family. John’s family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Bush, the team at the Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital and their personal friends that always reached out with a helping hand. Their overwhelming support was instrumental in the last stage of John’s journey. A Celebration of Life event to toast and reflect on this extraordinary man will be held 2-5 PM Sunday October 22, 2023 from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 108, River John. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the River John Legion, the Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital, or a charity of your choice. www.mclarenfuneral.ca