Murray Lawrence Catton

He grew up in a military family, moving across Canada and Germany as part of his own father’s postings. Murray later joined the military after graduating high school and enrolled in officer candidate training in Kingston, Ontario in the early 1960’s.

He served a 37 yr career with the Canadian Forces Military PPCLI in the rank of Captain. His career had him serving Internationally in Cyprus in the late 1960’s and Egypt in the mid 1970’s. The remainder of his career years were served in Canada primarily in Alberta between Calgary, Edmonton Camp Wainwright and at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

Murray was an avid sports person his whole life and downhill skiing was one of his favourite winter sports. He became involved in creating ski training programs for the Canadian military and authored a manual on the topic.

Murray learned to sail on the Nile river in Egypt while serving with the United Nations peacekeeping forces. He soon enrolled in every sailing course he could to allow him the ability to participate in deep water cruising internationally. Upon retiring from the Canadian Military he signed up to crew a boat heading south from Vancouver to Mexico. It was an adventure that left an impression. It was after this trip that he returned and bought a 35’ sailboat on the west coast of Canada where he spent years living a board working and preparing his boat for adventures. He sailed mostly around the San Juan Islands and Gulf Islands with family.

Murray was predeceased by his wife Marie Lynn in 1970 and raised his two girls as a single parent.

He leaves behind his two daughters Deborah Catton (Calgary) and Tammy Catton (Chestemere), Two sisters, Wendy Rao (Whiterock) Margo Van Beest (Chilliwack), grandchildren: Rhys Boulanger(Calgary), Dominique Boulanger(Calgary), Cody Mander (Calgary) Andrew Mander (deceased) Tasha Mander (Calgary), several nieces and nephews and great grandchildren Riley, Olivia, Kayson, Avaya, Vivienne and Genevieve.

He was loved and will be missed by many.