Thomas Murray

Passed peacefully on March 16, 2025 at the Toronto Sunnybrook Veterans Centre. Loving husband of the late Marguerite; father of Deborah Shannon (Peter) and the late Suzanne Farmer. Tom was the cherished and proud grandfather of Mackenzie Allsop (Jeff), Derek Farmer, Leanne Serrano (Mansell) and Tyler Shannon (Justine), and the loving great grandfather of Ayva, Noelle and Miles. He is survived by his sister Laura Leschuck and many nieces and nephews.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Frank and Margaret Murray who immigrated to Canada in 1910 from Belfast, Ireland. He was one of 6 children. Tom joined the RCAF while in high school. He was stationed in Sackville NB where he met Marguerite Watson, the love of his life. Following the conclusion of WWII and his release of war duties, they subsequently moved to Montreal to raise their 2 daughters, Deborah and Suzanne.

He was an inspiring and loving father. He enjoyed inventing; a camper trailer for the family vacations. He built kites, stilts, and even a life size dollhouse in the yard for the girls to play in, just to name a few. He loved gardening, singing, carpentry, drawing and fixing anything that wasn’t working.

Tom spent a lifetime working in aviation, retiring at age 58 as Director of Contracts for Air Canada, later as Senior V.P. of Canadian Overseas Airlines, and President of Jetonic Services Inc.

He was a proud member of the Freemason brotherhood for over 50 years. He dedicated himself to this noble charitable cause with many distinguished accomplishments of the most senior rankings, including Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Mason 14 degree, Knight Rose Croix 18 degree, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret 32 degree, and District Deputy Grand Master of Montreal.

Additionally, Tom became a distinguished Shriner, in support of the Shriners Hospital for Sick Children. He learned to play the glockenspiel at age 66 and played in the Shriners band. Tom’s decades of devoted charitable work with the Shriners also included international responsibilities.

In addition to his many workplace successes involving world travel and his dedication to his family, Tom’s community involvement never stalled. He was a founding member of the West Island (Montreal) YMCA, Provincial President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and lifetime Senator of the Junior Chamber International.

Always a religious person, Tom was one of the founding members of the St. Augustine Anglican Church in Pointe Claire, Quebec. He devoutly continued to attend services at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre until the end. He sang at this Christmas Concert at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.

Very special to Tom, primarily during his retirement years, was his 35 years of volunteering at the Veteran’s Centre in St. Anne de Bellevue in Quebec, inspiring and bettering the lives of so many veterans through workshops, personal improvement activities or just plain old happy socializing. A significant time in his life. In his later years, he was quoted “I make it my business to help people… that is what I enjoy doing”.

A service for family and close friends will be held at Marlatt Funeral Home (615 Main St E, Hamilton) on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

A Masonic service will be held at a future date in June, 2025 in Montreal.

Memorial donations can be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for sick Children-Canada (1003 Decarie Blvd., Montreal, Quebec) or Sunnybrook Hospital & Veterans Centre (2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto), or a charity of your choice.

Tom will be forever remembered & missed by his loving family and many dear friends.

A very special thank you to the outstanding and dedicated staff of the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre for providing the care to Tom, for which we shall be forever grateful.