It is with great sadness that we share the death of our beloved father and grandfather, Robert Gordon Murray. Gord passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024 at the age of 92 years.
Born on May 8, 1932, he was the fifth of seven children. He was raised in the village of Meadowville Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. He attended the one room school house and worked in the family’s country store. Gord attended Mount Allison University where he studied commerce and education and Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, where he graduated in 1963. Early in his career he worked for the Nova Scotia Trust Company but later found his calling with Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Initially, he worked at Legal Aid as a volunteer, a staff lawyer and, in 1976, became the first Executive Director of Legal Aid for the province of Nova Scotia, a position he held for many years. After his retirement as Executive Director, Gord remained on the Executive Committee and continued to provide his wisdom and guidance to the program. Through his years as Executive Director, he helped foster the careers of many who worked for the program and set a powerful example of what it means to advocate for fairness, justice and access to legal services. In 2019, he was awarded the J. Michael MacDonald Access to Justice Award by the Canadian Bar Association. Nova Scotia Legal Aid recently honoured Gord’s work with the preparation of the video, "The Best is Yet to Come".
Gord was a man of great wisdom and patience, who cared deeply about people. He had a special gift for listening to others and a great wit. Gord had many interests in his life and was an avid painter, especially in his retirement. Gord’s greatest joy in life was spending time with family. He was a loving husband, loving and supportive father and proud "Grampie Gord".
He is survived by his son, Allen, daughter-in-law, Cindy and by his beloved grandchildren, Nicholas, Andrew and Julia. He is also survived by his brothers, James Murray, Ottawa and Frank (Barbara) Murray, Lower Sackville; brother-in-law, Bill MacDonald and sister-in-law, Marita MacDonald, New Glasgow, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by and fondly remembered by the members of his MacInnis family of Antigonish (Bud, Charlene, Bonnie, Laura, Doug and their families).
Gord was predeceased by his wife, Myrtle, as well as his parents, Ethel (Essie) Murray and Wilfred Kingsley (Paddy) Murray; sister, Joyce and brother-in-law, Vic Fowler; sister, Irene Murray; brother, Douglas Carlyle (Bud) Murray and sister-in-law, Annie Murray; sister-in-law, Betty Murray; sister, Pat and brother-in-law, James Rushbrook; nephew, Chris Murray; as well as parents-in-law, Sinclair and Bessie MacDonald; sister-in-law, Margie Martin and brother-in-law, Donnie MacDonald. He was also predeceased by his two buddies, Winner and Jake.
Gord’s family would like to extend their thanks to all of the staff and residents at Green Meadows Community Residence for Seniors in North Grant who provided loving care and companionship for Gord in the final two years of his life as well as the staff at St. Martha’s Hospital, in particular, Dr. Jane Anne Howard. We also wish to thank Gord’s Legal Aid family, especially Lisa Stokkeskog and Charlene Moore, KC.
The family welcomes you to a visitation and celebration of life at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Avenue, New Glasgow from 1-3pm on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Cremation has taken place. A committal service will be held afterward in Lorne Street Cemetery with family friend, Ida Sarty presiding.
To honour Gord’s dedication to helping others, memorial donations may be made to the Pictou County Food Bank, the Antigonish Community Food Bank or other charity of your choice.
"The best is yet to come." – Gord Murray
