Obituary for Murray Bryson
BRYSON: Murray
June 10, 1925 - October 29, 2022
James “Murray” Bryson was born on June 10, 1925, on a neighbor’s homestead 8 1/2 miles south of Young, SK. He was the 10th and 2nd youngest child of David and Beatrice (Easton) Bryson. When he was seven years old, during the “Dirty Thirties”, the family homesteaded east of Endeavor for 10 years. There Murray grew up roaming the forest and meadows with his siblings, hunting partridges and small game for the table, cutting wood, looking after livestock, learning to box, and swimming and skating at noon at Beaver Bank School. As a young man, Murray returned to the prairies to farm, spending many hours in the saddle herding and rounding up cattle. Murray also cut cordwood in the Forest Reserve, worked in the Sutherland Railyard, and mined in the coal mines near Estevan. He was the Fire Tower operator in the Forest Reserve near Endeavor when he met Vivian Evenson. Murray and Vivian were married on his birthday in 1950 and began life on the farm in the Lyndhurst district south of Young. They farmed together – grain and cattle – for 25 years, providing wonderful growing-up years for their 4 children. When the last child had left the nest in 1975, they rented the farm to Cecil and moved to be near the “bush country” they loved, opening up and operating a Sears Catalogue Store in Preeceville. It was here that Murray’s relationship with Jesus blossomed. After seeing his family, one by one, invite Jesus into their lives, seeing the difference it made, and reading God’s Word for himself, Murray came to accept Jesus for who He is, Savior and Lord, and wanted to help others believe in Him too. In 1981, following 6 wonderful years in Preeceville , Murray and Vivian chose to return to the prairies, with their Watrous home and yard being the happy gathering hub for their children and grandchildren. During the busy farming seasons, Murray continued to farm with Cecil. In 1989, Murray’s beloved wife Vivian passed to her heavenly home. After 6 years of navigating life on his own, the Lord blessed him by bringing Margaret Schroeder into his life. They were married in 1995. Starting out in Watrous, then alternating time between Watrous and Herbert, they finally settled permanently in Herbert in 2009. Murray was a hard-working, active man who would run across the yard rather than walk. He loved spending time with the families, helping out on the farms, camping with the motorhome, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, boating, and fishing. He enjoyed helping others. After his retirement, he spent hours doing yardwork - helping out wherever he saw a need. He put his inventive carpenter skills to use at the New Horizons seniors’ drop-in center, remodeling the interior, etc. Murray loved music and enjoyed trying out different instruments – guitar, harmonica, violin, banjo. He was a voracious reader right up till about two weeks before his passing. He remained very active, pushing himself physically through his arthritis and multiple joint replacements until chronic renal failure necessitated his move to Prairie Wind Estate (assisted living) in 2018. His children were privileged to be able to take turns visiting with their Dad in the ensuing years in the apartment they began renting at that time. In December 2021, Murray entered long-term care at Herbert and District Integrated Facility. On Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 97 years old, in Cypress Regional Hospital, with family, Murray went to sleep and woke up in the presence of Jesus. Left to cherish his memory are: his wife Margaret; daughter Delores (Mel) McGifford, Imperial, SK, with children Carrie (Braden) Bailey, Coralie (Larry) Spratt, and Charlene (Aaron) Campbell; daughter Winnie (Craig) Burgess, Imperial, with children Denise (Shawn) Hubert, Gloria (Sean) Springer, Jennifer (Jeff) Hall, and Launa (Travis Erlam) Burgess; son Cecil (Pat) Bryson, Young, with children Daniel (Michelle) Bryson, Derek Bryson, and Dallas (Holly) Bryson; daughter Olive (Roy) Hargreaves, Saskatoon, with children Brandon (Nicole) Hargreaves, Julie (Michael) Off, and Brock Hargreaves; 21 great-grandchildren; stepdaughter Iris (Glenn) Siemens, Herbert; stepson Garnet (Donna) Schroeder, Herbert, with children Scott (Kelly) Schroeder, Mitchell (Hayhlee) Schroeder, and Tavis (Devin) Schroeder; stepson-in-law Dave Sereda; and 5 stepgreat-grandchildren. Murray was predeceased by his first wife Vivian, stepdaughter Monique Sereda, parents David and Beatrice Bryson, siblings William, John “Jack“, Gladys “Annie“, Isabel “Irene“, Nettie May, David, Stuart, Beatrice “Margaret“, Andrew “Andy“, and Gordon “ Leslie“. Murray‘s family thank you for attending and invite you to join them for lunch and a time of fellowship immediately following the service. A private family interment took place in Watrous Cemetery earlier today. The Funeral Service for James “Murray” Bryson took place at Bethel Church, Imperial, Saskatchewan on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating was Rev. Alan Stovall. The Active Pallbearers were Brandon Hargreaves, Daniel Bryson, Derek Bryson, Brock Hargreaves, Verne Thoner and Rob Bryson. The Scripture Readers were Aaliyah Spratt, Avery Campbell, Jack Springer, Eldon Campbell and Caiden Bryson. The Eulogy was given by Delores McGifford and read by Denise Hubert and Coralie Spratt. Tributes were given by Delores McGifford, Winnie Burgess and Pat Bryson. Attending the Register were Michelle Bryson and Alyssa Bryson. Ushers were Gloria Springer, Jennifer Hall, Charlene Campbell and Launa Burgess. Sound board was attended to by Joel Heppner. The Tribute Video was prepared by Carrie Bailey. Special Music on the Tribute Video was performed by the Bryson Family Virtual Choir and Carrie and Braden Bailey. The Pianist was Brenda Robinson. A Reception was provided by the Bethel Church Ladies following the Service. For online condolences, tributes or memorial donations please visit: https://fotheringham-mcdougall.com/
June 10, 1925 - October 29, 2022
James “Murray” Bryson was born on June 10, 1925, on a neighbor’s homestead 8 1/2 miles south of Young, SK. He was the 10th and 2nd youngest child of David and Beatrice (Easton) Bryson. When he was seven years old, during the “Dirty Thirties”, the family homesteaded east of Endeavor for 10 years. There Murray grew up roaming the forest and meadows with his siblings, hunting partridges and small game for the table, cutting wood, looking after livestock, learning to box, and swimming and skating at noon at Beaver Bank School. As a young man, Murray returned to the prairies to farm, spending many hours in the saddle herding and rounding up cattle. Murray also cut cordwood in the Forest Reserve, worked in the Sutherland Railyard, and mined in the coal mines near Estevan. He was the Fire Tower operator in the Forest Reserve near Endeavor when he met Vivian Evenson. Murray and Vivian were married on his birthday in 1950 and began life on the farm in the Lyndhurst district south of Young. They farmed together – grain and cattle – for 25 years, providing wonderful growing-up years for their 4 children. When the last child had left the nest in 1975, they rented the farm to Cecil and moved to be near the “bush country” they loved, opening up and operating a Sears Catalogue Store in Preeceville. It was here that Murray’s relationship with Jesus blossomed. After seeing his family, one by one, invite Jesus into their lives, seeing the difference it made, and reading God’s Word for himself, Murray came to accept Jesus for who He is, Savior and Lord, and wanted to help others believe in Him too. In 1981, following 6 wonderful years in Preeceville , Murray and Vivian chose to return to the prairies, with their Watrous home and yard being the happy gathering hub for their children and grandchildren. During the busy farming seasons, Murray continued to farm with Cecil. In 1989, Murray’s beloved wife Vivian passed to her heavenly home. After 6 years of navigating life on his own, the Lord blessed him by bringing Margaret Schroeder into his life. They were married in 1995. Starting out in Watrous, then alternating time between Watrous and Herbert, they finally settled permanently in Herbert in 2009. Murray was a hard-working, active man who would run across the yard rather than walk. He loved spending time with the families, helping out on the farms, camping with the motorhome, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, boating, and fishing. He enjoyed helping others. After his retirement, he spent hours doing yardwork - helping out wherever he saw a need. He put his inventive carpenter skills to use at the New Horizons seniors’ drop-in center, remodeling the interior, etc. Murray loved music and enjoyed trying out different instruments – guitar, harmonica, violin, banjo. He was a voracious reader right up till about two weeks before his passing. He remained very active, pushing himself physically through his arthritis and multiple joint replacements until chronic renal failure necessitated his move to Prairie Wind Estate (assisted living) in 2018. His children were privileged to be able to take turns visiting with their Dad in the ensuing years in the apartment they began renting at that time. In December 2021, Murray entered long-term care at Herbert and District Integrated Facility. On Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 97 years old, in Cypress Regional Hospital, with family, Murray went to sleep and woke up in the presence of Jesus. Left to cherish his memory are: his wife Margaret; daughter Delores (Mel) McGifford, Imperial, SK, with children Carrie (Braden) Bailey, Coralie (Larry) Spratt, and Charlene (Aaron) Campbell; daughter Winnie (Craig) Burgess, Imperial, with children Denise (Shawn) Hubert, Gloria (Sean) Springer, Jennifer (Jeff) Hall, and Launa (Travis Erlam) Burgess; son Cecil (Pat) Bryson, Young, with children Daniel (Michelle) Bryson, Derek Bryson, and Dallas (Holly) Bryson; daughter Olive (Roy) Hargreaves, Saskatoon, with children Brandon (Nicole) Hargreaves, Julie (Michael) Off, and Brock Hargreaves; 21 great-grandchildren; stepdaughter Iris (Glenn) Siemens, Herbert; stepson Garnet (Donna) Schroeder, Herbert, with children Scott (Kelly) Schroeder, Mitchell (Hayhlee) Schroeder, and Tavis (Devin) Schroeder; stepson-in-law Dave Sereda; and 5 stepgreat-grandchildren. Murray was predeceased by his first wife Vivian, stepdaughter Monique Sereda, parents David and Beatrice Bryson, siblings William, John “Jack“, Gladys “Annie“, Isabel “Irene“, Nettie May, David, Stuart, Beatrice “Margaret“, Andrew “Andy“, and Gordon “ Leslie“. Murray‘s family thank you for attending and invite you to join them for lunch and a time of fellowship immediately following the service. A private family interment took place in Watrous Cemetery earlier today. The Funeral Service for James “Murray” Bryson took place at Bethel Church, Imperial, Saskatchewan on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating was Rev. Alan Stovall. The Active Pallbearers were Brandon Hargreaves, Daniel Bryson, Derek Bryson, Brock Hargreaves, Verne Thoner and Rob Bryson. The Scripture Readers were Aaliyah Spratt, Avery Campbell, Jack Springer, Eldon Campbell and Caiden Bryson. The Eulogy was given by Delores McGifford and read by Denise Hubert and Coralie Spratt. Tributes were given by Delores McGifford, Winnie Burgess and Pat Bryson. Attending the Register were Michelle Bryson and Alyssa Bryson. Ushers were Gloria Springer, Jennifer Hall, Charlene Campbell and Launa Burgess. Sound board was attended to by Joel Heppner. The Tribute Video was prepared by Carrie Bailey. Special Music on the Tribute Video was performed by the Bryson Family Virtual Choir and Carrie and Braden Bailey. The Pianist was Brenda Robinson. A Reception was provided by the Bethel Church Ladies following the Service. For online condolences, tributes or memorial donations please visit: https://fotheringham-mcdougall.com/