Thomas Tom James Murray

Thomas J. Murray arrived in Las Vegas directly from the United Kingdom more than 34 years ago. He passed away on January 6th, 2014, after an extremely sudden illness. He was born on October 8th, 1934, in the United Kingdom, and throughout his life he would regale us with stories and historical facts about his beloved Scotland, and claimed that his side of our family had descended directly from Scottish nobility.

In every facet of his life, Tom endeavored to do and to be the very best person possible. He was a Master Mason whose beautiful and intricate brick craftsmanship is displayed in homes throughout the Las Vegas valley and in many custom homes in the southeast part of the United Kingdom. He was a competitive and avid cyclist, who won the Corporate Challenge in his age group five times in a row, and only stopped competing in that race because the other competitors requested that he allow someone else a chance to win the trophy. Such was his heart that he was happy to comply. Once he discovered golf, he worked tirelessly on getting his handicap down to three, and played golf up until his seventy-ninth year. More recently he worked out at a local gym four times each week, a testament to his self-discipline and unerring desire to be the best he could be, no excuses and no matter what his age.

Tom met Anne, his wife, some sixty years ago in London. Immediately and forever smitten, he and Anne shared fifty-eight years of marriage together. Anne is - and always was - the love of his life. Some of his most favorite recent loving memories involved just sitting with Anne and reminiscing with her about the times that had they shared together. They made the most of their retirement years, working out together and even watching the fireworks on New Year's Eve on the Las Vegas Strip. How he loved his beautiful wife...

Tom and Anne had three children, Tracey, Gary and Stuart. He spent his life ensuring that they would have a better life and future than he did when he was growing up. Whether this meant he ensure that they excelled academically, musically, or in sports, he was always there, and was their number one fan. He loved to sit down with them and talk about developments and changes back in the United Kingdom, his children's plans, and most of all, he delighted in their achievements, whether small or large. Honestly, none of his children can remember a time growing up when he was not there showing them how to roller skate, ride a bicycle, play golf, or listening to them astutely in an attempt to help them solve problems...

Tom was grandfather to eight grandchildren, Claire, Andrew, Lindsay, Pashar, Garrick, Thomas, Stephanie and Cavin. In 1995 he had a catastrophic accident and, after six months in hospital and convalescent care, defied the doctor's predictions and refused to be crippled and mentally impaired. He had been spared for a purpose, and his purpose was to encourage and nurture his young beloved grandchildren, Thomas and Stephanie, to excel academically and as individuals, and to spend as much time as possible with them when they were not at school. More recently, he delighted in accompanying Andrew to the driving range and in giving him tips on how to improve his swing. He was extremely proud of all of his grandchildren, their accomplishments, and what he regarded as his legacy.

Tom Murray, the man, was a discreet, private, selfless, intelligent man who was devoted to his family. Everything that he planned and that he did from the time he married his wife was to make a better life for her and his family. He believed that no job was worth doing unless it was done with pride and to the best of his ability. He possessed extraordinary will, fortitude, determination and courage. Once he made up his mind to do something, he would not rest until he had accomplished his goal, and accomplished it in the most perfect way that he could. No obstacle was large enough to deter him. Ever. He had an uncanny sense of humor and brightened the lives of all those who knew him. Altruistic to a fault, he rode in the Las Vegas to London Bridge charity bike ride multiple times in an effort to raise money. Nothing pleased Tom more than to see his entire family at any of the many family celebrations held in honor of holidays, birthdays, celebrations, or simply just a family get together.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Anne Murray; his children, Tracey Donley (Jim), Gary Murray and Stuart Murray; his grandchildren, Claire and Andrew Donley, Lindsay, Pashar and Garrick Murray, Thomas, Stephanie and Cavin Murray, all of Las Vegas; and his extended family in Las Vegas, California, Florida, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

When tomorrow starts without me

When tomorrow starts without me, and I am not here to see

If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me,

I know how much you love me as much as I love you,

And each time you think of me I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me please try to understand,

That Jesus came and called my name and took me by the hand.

He said that my place is ready in heaven far above,

And that I have to leave behind all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away a tear fell from my eye,

For all my life I'd always thought it wasn't my time to die.

I had so much to live for and so much yet to do,

It seems almost impossible that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays the good ones and the bad,

I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.

If I could have stayed for just a while,

I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realize that this could never be,

For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things that I would miss tomorrow,

I thought of you and when I did my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gate and felt so much at home,

As God looked down and smiled at me from his great golden throne.

He said "This is eternity, and all I've promised you,

Today your life on earth is past, but here it starts anew."

"I promise no tomorrow but today will always last,

And since each day's the same here there's no longing for the past."

So when tomorrow starts without me don't think we're far apart,

For every time you think of me I'm right here in your heart.

Anon

"With all of our hearts and until our last breaths, we shall love you and carry you in our hearts, extraordinary man, husband, dad, granddad, our hero..."

The Murray Family