MURRAY ATKINSON (1948-2017)
It is with saddened hearts that we announce the passing of Murray John Atkinson age 69 of Barrie, Ontario. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in Yuma, Arizona with his beloved wife Denise by his side.
Murray was born on January 15, 1948 in Bracebridge, Ontario to Robert and Freda (Short) Atkinson and in 1967 married his long time love, Denise (Poitras). He soon became an employee with the Town of Gravenhurst, and worked his way up to Town Foreman. In 1979 the family moved to Brooks, Alberta where Murray worked hard to master his new career as an owner/operator transport driver with Canyon Distributors, Calgary. In 1990 Murray left the road behind to become a successful businessman in Barrie with his trucking company TRIO Transport Systems Inc., which he sold and retired from in 2012.
Murray was a son, brother, uncle, father, mentor, and the light in many people’s lives. He was a man who made a lasting impression with anyone he met, which left him with an extensive network of friends and colleagues throughout Canada and the United States.
His family were his love and his life. Murray sought to instil in his children a zest for life, a commitment to family and the power of wit and laughter. He is survived by his wife Denise, his 3 daughters, Annette Atkinson of Barrie, ON, Angela Atkinson (Jeff Smith) of Perth, ON and Anastasia Atkinson (Troy Hutchinson) of Barrie, ON; 6 grandchildren Meekai, Brett, Spencer, Yasmine, Somer and Liberty; his siblings Lloyd Atkinson (Patsy) of Bracebridge, ON and Roberta Vivian of Kitchener, ON; as well as many cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, nieces, nephews, other close relatives, good friends and his little fur buddy Shadow.
We knew he couldn’t leave the road behind. He enjoyed spontaneous trips on his custom built Harley Davidson, looked forward to his annual fall hunting trips and loved every moment of retirement with his wife of 50 years, Denise. Whether at their home in Barrie or their RV in Arizona, Murray’s hands were never still and he was always searching and planning for the next project or endeavour that he and Denise could tackle.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Grace and Speed, Gravenhurst, ON from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. (275 Steamship Bay Rd.) In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Murray’s memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.ca) Those wishing to sign the family’s online guestbook may do so at www.steckleygooderham.com/obituaries