Q. Firstly let’s get familiar with you again. When did you live in Carman?
I grew up on the family farm 2 miles south of Graysville. I was the 4th generation of Murray to live on that farm. I am the youngest of 4 kids, ‘blessed’ with 3 older brothers.
Q. Did you attend school here?
I went to Graysville School for grades 1-6 and Carman Collegiate for grades 7-12. I was the only member of the family to attend kindergarten at Carman Elementary. One day, the high school bus forgot to stop at the Elementary and Bryan Orchard, Crystal MacNair and I were left waiting on the sidewalk. Thankfully my Dad drove by and spotted us. It was 1970, so nothing to worry about!
Q. What did you do for jobs as a student?
• I worked at the Dufferin Credit Union in the summer after Grade 11.
Q. What activities did you participate in as a student?
Most will know that my Dad was a great baseball player, so we kids played ball. I was always on the girls fastball teams and in 1982, our Cougar team won the MB High School Provincial Championship with coaches Neil Strachan and Wayne Johnson. I played field hockey, was in the band, and was Student Council Vice President in Grade 12.
Q. Did your family live here? Who and what did they do for a living?
The Murray family has lived in the area since 1889 and my parents, grandparents and great grandparents all farmed in the Graysville area. My Mom’s maiden name was Eby and she lived on a farm just north of Carman. My parents were very involved in the community; Church, UCW, 4-H leadership, School Board, baseball, curling, Mom was on the Band Booster committee and the original board building the Boyne Towers in 1980. After retirement they found plenty to keep them busy. They camped and golfed, Dad was on the Handi-Van committee, Senior Men’s Curling group and raising money for the building of the Active Living Centre.
Q. What was your chosen career after school?
I had a couple jobs in Winnipeg for a few years and then in Jan 1990, I moved to Calgary. I took a travel and tourism course and got a job with a Travel Insurance company. For 30+ years I’ve worked in that field with a few different companies.
7. What got you to leave Carman and where?
After high school I moved to Winnipeg for work.
Q. Did you move around lots in career or life?
I was transferred to Edmonton once but moved back to Calgary 2 yrs later. I currently live in Airdrie, AB, just minutes north of Calgary.
Q. Do you have extended family living here?
My Dad lives in the Towers. There is plenty of extended family in the area, many related to the Murray family that first came in 1889, also the Gray’s of Graysville , (George Gray who first established Graysville was my Great Great Grandfather), and the Stow’s in the area as my Dad’s mother was a Stow.
Q. What do you do now? Retired?
Getting close to retirement!
Q. What passes your leisure time? Hobbies? Sports?
I play some golf, I enjoy researching family history and sharing that knowledge with family members.
I’ve inherited a bit of my Mom’s creativity so use that to decorate my front porch and home.
I live in a great neighborhood that backs onto a canal. We host a Canada Day celebration that has included a Regatta with decorated peddle boats, rubber dinghies and kayaks.
Q. Have you travelled for leisure and where?
I’m quite a home body. I’ve been on a cruise, been to Mexico, golf trips to Nevada and Arizona, road trips to the Black Hills and through Yellowstone.
I’ve traveled throughout Canada: a Wedding in NF, trip to Montreal with a couple days in Ottawa and met Joe Clark in 1979. Trips throughout prairies and BC. I went to Yellowknife twice, once the end of June and once in January.
I’ve been all over AB for work, but also for fun. Living so close to the mountains has allowed for some adventures I’d never thought I’d accomplish. While it was never on my list of things to do, I have managed to climb to the top of 4 mountains and almost to the top of 2 others. The most notable was the top of the Middle Sister in Canmore.
Q. Any future plans? Do you have to do list?
Scotland has always been on my list of places to get to.
Q. Do you ever return to Carman?
I’m in Carman 3 or 4 times a year. I have great friends and family in the area and I’ve been part of Class Reunion planning committees.
Q. What are some of your fondest memories of your Carman days?
My dad and I learning to golf when I was 16. 4H, church choir, band practice, baseball, bowling, curling in Graysville on the natural ice. The fair was always fun. It’s been fun to have Class reunions during fair weekend as you can meet up with plenty of friends from other classes at the beer gardens. The morning swimming lessons in the freezing cold water. Camping at Stephenfield Park in the summer as teenagers was fun.
Q. Any last words you wish to send to our readers?
I’m proud of the community where I was raised and love to tell stories of my experiences growing up.
Q. What former Carmanites (not living there) would you like to read about next?
Kevin Murdoch, Laura Lynn McKibbin and Jeff Rose.
