Cressman, Murray:
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Murray on Monday, June 25th, 2018, at his home in his 81st year.
Beloved common-law partner of Lyla Mavin for 13 years, ‎her sons Craig Mavin (Oakville), Bill Mavin (Kitchener), her daughter Wendy Mavin (Elmira), their spouses and all their children.
Devoted and loving DAD to his sons and daughter, Cameron Michael Cressman (Major) and his spouse, Yongmei (Jane) (Ottawa), Steven Murray Cressman, Brent Mitchell Cressman and Tanna Layne Cressman (all from the Halifax-Dartmouth area).
Predeceased by his parents Hilliard and Salome (née Meyer) Cressman and his older brother, Delton (Del) Cressman. Survived by his dear older sister, Wilma Strub, who played such an influential role in his childhood years.
A lifelong resident of both Kitchener and Breslau, Ontario, Murray was a descendant of the original handful of non-indigenous settlers (Mennonites) in the Waterloo County area, the Isaac S. Cressman branch of the Cressman family tree. He is an alumni of the Kitchener Collegiate Institute, back in those early long ago days when everyone in the then-small cities of K-W seemed to know each other.
Murray was employed for most his working life in the local petroleum industry. Starting as a truck driver in the early formative years of Schofield & deVries Ltd, he remained with the company in various positions including Vice-President Sales and Fleet Manager as it evolved through CANAM Oil Services, Breslube and (the old) Safety-Kleen company. Murray was a strong proponent of oil re-cycling long before it was championed by the "green industry". And Murray was remembered as someone who could sell anything to anyone anytime.
Murray had many passions in his life - hurtling down the highway on his Matchless motorcycle, in James Dean-like leather jacket and peaked cap, heading off with his buddy, Larry Hodgins, spelunking (wild cave exploring) in Kentucky and Virginia. There was his love of exotic automobiles - a series of convertibles, Karman Ghia, Jaguar XK-E (won an impromtu drag race down the runway of the Breslau Airport), BMW Bavaria and a 4-wheel steering Honda Prelude.
In addition to camping and snowmobiling, his greatest recreational passions were power boating (cruisers Snowbird 1, 2 and. 3) and his sailing boat baby, the Nonsuch 30, Sailor, cruising/sailing Lakes Couchiching, Simcoe, Sparrow, Trent-Severn Canal and especially, the Georgian Bay 30,000 Islands. Murray was an avid member and leader in both the K-W Power Squadron and the Nonsuch member association, helping to organize many "rendezvous" gatherings and other events. (Murray was also a president of his local condo association.) Happily, he was also able experience sailing among the Caribbean islands. As well, Murray also recycled his passion for sailing into designing and arranging the manufacture and distribution of Nonsuch sailing boat hardware items.
Murray was also an avid RV'r. Reliving his early trucker days wheeling his Ford F-350 and 5th wheel trailer, many winters were spent exploring Florida, Texas and other southern locales.
Family, friends and acquaintances will be invited to gather to celebrate, relive and enjoy Murray's full life in a relaxed, convivial setting. The celebration is tentatively planned for Saturday, September 1st, 2018. Full details will be promulgated at a date closer to the event through various means; MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The following day, close family will be invited to a scattering of Murray's ashes, likely in the Georgian Bay area where he spent so much of his enjoyable times.
Murray Cressman, loving and devoted father and partner, motorcyclist, spelunker, trucker, salesman, innovative designer, power boater, sailor, beer maker, rum drinker and general all-round adventurer. Our Dad brought good times and hearty laughs. We will miss him greatly and will always love you.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-749-8467. Cremation has taken place. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Lung Association (www.lung.ca) will be appreciated by the family (cards are also available at the funeral home).
Visit www.henrywalser.com for Murray's memorial. You are also invited to leave a note, thought, expression.