Gardiner, Murray Lee
WWII - Veteran
Murray passed away on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023, at Meaford Long Term Care at the age of 101.
Murray was predeceased by his wife, Doris Muriel in 2007.
He was born in 1922 to Hannah (nee Richardson) and Christopher Gardiner in Thamesville, Ontario and was the youngest of four boys, Howard being the eldest, Ralph and Kenneth, all of whom have predeceased Murray.
The Gardiner family eventually settled in Mimico as Chris took a job in the Purchasing Department of the Ontario Hospital in Mimico. It was there that Murray met Doris, in his teens, at the Small Arms Factory, making armaments for the war. Murray and Doris became dance partners at the Palais Royale dance hall on Lakeshore Avenue, and partners for life. They were married for 64 years.
Murray was the much-loved father of Ted (Sharon), Chris (Millie), Barbara (Fernand) and Laura (Dick) and was so proud of his grandchildren Ben, Leah, Emma, Sherisse, Greg, Jason, Matthew, and David. Murray is also proudly the great grandfather to Max, Grace, Mason, Jordan, A.J., Jaydon, Nedysse, Noah, Jacob, Noah, Ezra, Immanuel, Samuel, Michael-Benjamin, Theodore, Felix and Pierce.
Murray was a World War II veteran, posted in Dauphin, Manitoba during the war as an aircraft instrument panel technician.
Post war, he went back to university and graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy and practiced in his own stores in Weston and Downsview until closing them and moving to North Bay. From 1976 to 1995, Murray worked for his original partner from the Weston store, Rod Prophet, at Ferris Drugs. When Murray decided to retire, he only retired part time, choosing to work each summer in Huntsville for John Murton at Huntsville Discount Drugs, where he and Doris lived full time at the cottage. Winters were spent in Vero Beach, Florida. Murray was very proud of his degree and loved helping people get well.
Murray’s hobbies and passions were his cottage and singing. He was a member of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing of America (SPEBQSOA) and sang and performed with the Toronto Chapter for many years, as a chorus member as well as in quartets. He was also their President for several years. After retirement, he sang with the Vero Beach Florida chapter and had a lot of fun singing with a popular quartet called “Catch of the Day”.
Murray and Doris fell in love with cottage life and particularly 3 Mile Lake outside of Burks Falls. They had a family cottage there where idyllic summer holidays filled with sun, sand, the beach, BBQ’s, water fights, playing euchre and gin rummy and trips to Huntsville were enjoyed. Fortunately, the tradition continued for 35 years, and his grandchildren were also fortunate enough to have these experiences at the beloved cottage.
The family will receive friends for a service at the Ferguson Funeral Home in Meaford on June 17th, 2023 at 1 o’clock. A private interment in Whitby will take place at a later date.
A special thank you to the nurses and staff at Meaford Long Term Care, Riverside Lane Wing for their loving care of this man.
As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Meaford Hospital Foundation or the Georgian Triangle Humane Society would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted. www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca
Details
Funeral Service at Ferguson Funeral Home in Meaford.
Make a donation in memory of Murray Lee Gardiner
Donations: Meaford Hospital Foundation or the Georgian Triangle Humane SocietyDonate securely through Ferguson Funeral Home
Thursday, May 25, 2023
For his 101 birthday he told me he wanted a 21 gun salute! I wasn’t sure how to do that but went into his room blowing a horn! He laughed so hard and thanked me for trying! He was a great man!
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Murray, you were always so kind and happy, every time I came into your room to check on you.
I enjoyed your life stories very much!
I will miss your smiling face, God bless you and may you rest now with all the people that loved you.
Your care giver xo
Pat McArthur
Friday, May 26, 2023
Being a childhood friend of Laura’s (Lolly), I was fortunate to know this kind and gentle man. Murray loved to laugh and to share a funny story. RIP Murray and I hope you are dancing with Doris again.
Friday, May 26, 2023
My uncle Murray was a kind and generous person with a great singing voice who loved to laugh. I have the fondest memories of Uncle Murray and Auntie Dodie at Three Mile Lake as a child and teenager, memories to last a lifetime. Here’s to a life well-lived. Rest in peace.
Thursday, June 1, 2023
I worked at Huntsville Discount Drugs when Murray was the summer pharmacist. I remember a kind gentleman, who was always smiling. He had a joyful laugh and a twinkle in his eye when he talked of Doris and his family. Condolences to the family and may your memories be happy and help you through this time of grief.
Friday, June 2, 2023
A hundred and one! Way to go Murray!
Everytime I looked at the “loon” cushions Doris made for us in our living room I often wondered what became of Murray and Doris.
In the early days of my career as a pharmacist (I’ve been retired for 6 years now) I had the pleasure of working with Murray at Huntsville Discount Drugs where he would work during the summers. He stayed a couple of more summers after my husband and I purchased Discount Drugs but lost track of him and Doris after that.
A real gentleman.
I remember Murray and Doris graciously allowing us to have our staff summer picnic parties at their cottage on Three Mile Lake and the conversations with Murray when the pharmacy was slow.
Both Murray and Doris, a class act.
Helen and Lou Luvison
Huntsville, Ontario
Friday, June 2, 2023
Uncle Murray and aunt Doris were my godparents and I was born in the early post war years when uncle Murray and auntie Doe, Haig and Aileen Beatty (my parents) lived for a short time under one roof in Mimico. Uncle Murray was the uncle who,voluntarily, pulled me around the backyard in my brand new Eatonia wagon in 1948…endearing him in my heart forever. Uncle Murray was also the catalyst that began the move for my parents to purchase a cottage property on 3 Mile Lake (Ken and Marie Ramsay would join us years later). What Uncle Murray started in 1957 has left us all with the gift of cherished childhood memories that always evoke smiles and laughter! And, one last uncle and nephew nugget that is an insight to the character of this good man. I loved the Beach Boys and their music. I played it loudly and often,especially on a beach,to the consternation of most adults! But not my uncle Murray.He listened to the music, to the lyrics and, of course, to the harmony and we played some more songs, loudly! And I learned about Harmonics! How could you not love an uncle like Murray.