Read Michael "Mike" John Murrell's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Michael "Mike" John Murrell

Richmond, BC, Canada

January 12, 1933 - December 9, 2020

Jan 12, 1933 - Dec 9, 2020

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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Father and Husband Michael (Mike) John Murrell in Richmond, BC on December 9th, 2020 aged 87 years old.

No service will be held due to Covid, something we hope goes away this year, so considering that here is my eulogy & life story about Dad. I apologize as it’s a little long, if I forgot anyone or spelled your names wrong. I know many of our friends below are gone now, but our family remembers the good times with everyone, and we think about you often.

Dad was born in London, (Catford) England on January 12th, 1933 and is predeceased by his Mother and our 'Nana', Grace (Gig) Murrell nee Boughton and Father Eric Douglas (Doug) Murrell.

He is survived by his Wife of 62 years, Hilda, Sons Stephen and Gregory (Lisa) and Grandchildren Taylor & Dryden, Sister Marianne, Nephews Ewan & Jon.

Dad's family moved to Worthing on the South Coast of the UK from their house on Nequay Road in Catford when he was young, safe outside of London during the blitz and that is where his love of the water and fishing flourished, spending many early mornings as a boy with a family friend, while his Father was stationed in Africa.

Dad loved playing cricket for years at Gadebridge Park Boarding School in Hemel Hempstead winning many championships & then at Haileybury Imperial Service College in Hertford Heath later. He played Grass Hockey, Soccer, Squash & Golf, enjoyed Football, All Star Wrestling and Ice hockey once he got to Canada, making skating rinks in the backyard for Stephen, Greg & their friend Ken James, enrolling us in and helping coach various sports, then watching his Grandchildren enjoy the same.

After the war Dad graduated from Haileybury, which was followed by two years in the UK Armed Forces training in Cold Lake, Alberta like his Father & Grandfather. Returning to Worthing with his knack for numbers he worked his way up to a Management position at Marks and Spencer's in London, commuting daily on his motorcycle.

After a few years with 'Marks and Sparks', he decided to immigrate to Canada in 1956 arriving in Montreal briefly working at a Foundry there until he moved to the West Coast where he became a Salesman and then Partner in Wholesale Appliances (later becoming the Haddon group).

He met Mom at a St. Andrews Wesley church Youth Club function in 1957, fell in love and got married in 1958 with John Clare (Bev) as his Best Man, Pete Taylor (& Edna, also their Soloist), Ken McKenna as Groomsmen, Mom's Sister Mildred as Bridesmaid, Flower girls Tanis & Karen Magee (Howie & Olive Magee), friends Pete & Audrey Cloghesy, Barb & Ron Curby and many others.

The ensuing years were spent raising the children, first in Kelowna BC with help from the Cricketers there building their first house like Bill & Donna Stevenson, Jim & Gloria Peyton, Fred & Helen Mather (Moira), Bev Graham and Dr. John Bennett who later delivered Stephen. The family shared many fun times with friends the Harvey's (Tip & Amy, 'kids' ;-) Bob, Roly & Christine) on Okanagan Lake and at Manning Park.

A few years later the family moved to White Rock, BC sharing the same great times at Manning and many Christmas' on Lee & Arbutus streets with lifelong best friends and our Godparents (a bullet they luckily dodged!) the Kuyers (George & Dianne [Gladys later] 'kids' ;-) Jack (Diana), Joyce (Jerry), Wayne (Susan), Marion (Ed) & Donna (Randy).

Moving to Kerrisdale to be closer to work the family spent the children's school years there with good friends the James' (Marshall & Marion, children Brent, Marnie & Ken, our best friend), the Mercers at Christmas too (Ron & Trudy, Mom's BFF whose laughter we miss dearly, son Noel) and with our families dog Tammy that Dad brought home one day in his pocket 'for us' he said. We knew better as he grew up with dogs all his life and surely wanted one for us.

With his career at Wholesale Appliances, Dad & Mom were fortunate to travel the World on yearly conventions with their Hupp, Speed Queen, Hoover, Gibson & White Westinghouse Appliance Distributors from throughout BC who became friends, like the Wosks, Dan & Sally Bonnet along with others like partners Bob Wilson, Bill Dunlop, Monte Graham & family.

Dad was instrumental in bringing the Sharp™ brand of electronics to Canada and I remember us having one of the first microwave ovens too. After leaving Wholesale he continued in the Appliance Industry creating Haida Distributors for several years and later working for Eng Washing Machine and Coinamatic Laundry.

After his retirement Dad & Mom enjoyed gardening together and loved travelling in their Motorhome down the US West Coast to Yuma, AZ (Sansend, Winterhaven) and Mazatlán, Mexico every winter where Dad loved to fish off the beach (and at Pender Harbour), then spending summers in Birch Bay, WA. going out in the boat crabbing with us and all our friends or later with his buddy John (except when he sunk the boat, or they forgot to put the bung in! :-)

Dad was very proud to have spent eight years volunteering as the 1st President of Birch Bay Leisure Park and of his/their win in the lawsuit against the Developers on behalf of the 718 Park members, while continuing as a Circle Rep there since the 70's until last year.

Dad helped at and enjoyed many Hamburger days, Caesar Sundays, Potlucks, New Years Eve's and other events there with their many friends in Birch Bay, such as Dale & Marg Henry (Chris & Lisa), Dave & Bev Rollo (Susan & Kathy), John & Nell Van Leest, Jim & Shirley Beauchamp, Dennis (the menace) & Audrey Forester, Al & Bev Dickie, Joe & Noelle, Tim & Carilee, Paul & Judy, Moe & Edna Knight, the Hickocks, Raffans, Browns, McGoverns, Bonnets (Thanks for always visiting M&D Janice!) and others.

Their group of friends from the WISE club in Vancouver (Welsh, Irish, Scottish & English) also joined Dad & Mom in Birch Bay, initially at Rafter's Trailer Court, like the Hartleys (Bill & Ivy), Crisps (George & Doris) and Seyforths (Ken & Ivy, Steven) and others where we were lucky enough to spend our summers as children while Dad commuted back and forth to Vancouver daily.

When the refinery came to town in 1970 (50 years ago, yikes!) Rafter's kicked most of us part timers out and at that time someone decided to create a trailer park from 40, then 80 acres of muddy swamp field and called it "Birch Bay Leisure Park" with 400+ sites. Dad saw the potential and bought us a site in 1971 making us one of the first to buy in, but it was literally nothing but a giant mud field initially as far as you could see and flooded under a foot of water sometimes in the winter.

It was such a success that they doubled the size of it, but not the utilities like sewage, drainage & electric to go with that, they tried to keep the beachfront lands (now Grand Bay Condos), tried to keep the park property titles, etc. (No names, as later they counter sued Mom, Dad and the Rollo's personally & BBLP as above, but lost and the deficiencies were repaired.)

Birch Bay was something else in those days and we were so grateful Dad brought us there to experience the bumper to bumper cars cruising the bay at 5 mph, the cabins like at the old Edgewater & Bay Center Resorts everywhere, the Roller rink, Pizza Haven, Carnival & Ferris wheel, Palms & other dance halls, the two drive ins, the BB Golf course, the crazy 4th of Julys and the CShop at the old Shore Acres (now Jacobs Landing) for treats....but at the four way stop for a long time thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Alesse.

Special thanks to the ladies in the office @BBLP as well, Shelly & Jennifer, who graciously handled all of Dad's beloved junk mail - OMG! I hate to think of the boxes they are buried in now, sorry! Thanks to Ken too, who was always friendly with Dad & Mom.

Dad was a handy guy around the house which led to him never throwing anything out and to his surely relatable love of fixing everything by using gobs of goop, sprays and tapes - like his 10 pairs of busted reading glasses - driving us crazy!

His real skills that he passed on to us did however build the family's 1st house as above, remodeled a few others, built a great (but knuckle busting!!!) Standing eight-foot-long indoor table hockey game for us (with boards, etc.) and beautiful large Christmas lawn decorations with giant Candles, an Angel, (based on me I think? ;-) Santa w/ reindeer all out of plywood, painted & lit up with flood lights which was rare in the 60's, amongst many other things.

He often embarrassed us by being the guy who always stood up to say something, be it something nice at social gatherings, birthdays, etc. or something not so nice when he saw injustices, which we were always proud of him for and will surely miss.

After suffering a stroke last year, he was able to come home, but later required more care and moved to the Minoru Residences in Richmond where due to Covid we, as with many others, were sadly unable to see their loved ones regularly.

Special thanks to those on the front line at the Richmond Hospital and Minoru Residences, we deeply appreciate all you do every day to help those in need, thank you!

As mentioned above, no service will be held due to Covid, please donate to The SOS Children's Village BC (604) 574-2964 in lieu of flowers or go to SOSBC.org

Sincerely,
Stephen & the family

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