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Donald Frank Murray was born on the 4th May 1914 on a farm ( SE 35 42 4 W3) which was 6 miles west of Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada.  He went to school off and on from April
1921 until 1929. His mother died in 1921 and between 1921 and
1926 he lived with his Campbell grandparents in Rosthern or on the farm
under the supervision of housekeepers.In 1926 his father married a second time. He had a wonderful step-mother who was loved by all the family. One of the best recommendations a person could get would be to have a step-parent praise him. His step-mother said that Donald never did a malicious act towards any person. Of course, she never said anything bad about anybody either. As a boy, Don was interested in sports. They played softball games with the neighbours. He told about a field day where he took Grand Aggregate in sports and also won the Boys and Mens Stock judging competition the same day. Don had a step-brother, Peter Sproul who was the same age. One day Don and Peter decided to hitch-hike to Saskatoon to look for work. The first day they only got as far as Waldheim (a strong mennonite community). They didn't have any money for food so they went into a store and while one boy distracted the clerk, the other stole chocolate bars for supper. They were wandering around the town and were stopped by the local policeman who wanted to know what they were doing. They explained that they were trying to get to Saskatoon and had no place to sleep for the night. The policeman allowed them to stay in the local jail overnight and didn't lock the door. The next day they got to Saskatoon. There was no work for them in Saskatoon so they visited Bob Murray (Don's brother) who happened to be in the hospital at the time. Bob gave Don enough money to take the bus home, but Peter was left to fend for himself. The following was written by Peter Sproul about a military experience that he and Don shared: In 1929 the Canadian government activated (or perhaps reactivated) the army militia reserve. The idea was to train volunteer civilian men in the arts of war on a part-time basis as a reserve for the regular army (in case of war or other emergency). In our part of Saskatchewan a regiment was formed called "the Prince Albert Volunteers". It was headed by a Colonal Little who lived, I think in P.A. (and was probably a retired officer from W.W.I). At full strength an infantry regiment, at that time, was made up of 1000 men, divided into 4 companies of 250 each. One of these companies was supposed to come from the Rosthern district so a recruiting office was set up in Rosthern. All that was immediately involved was a 2 week course of training in a military camp at Dundern. Privates (I think) were paid something like $2 per day in addition, of course, to being supplied with a uniform, food & accomodation (tents). Alex & Bob (Murray) both joined up and, of course, Donnie (as your father was called at that time) & I also wanted to go, but you were supposed to be 18 and we were both only 15. We were told that if we went to the recruiting office and swore we were 18 that we would be accepted. Perhaps the recruiting officer was hard-pressed to fill his quota. In any case we were readily accepted and given a uniform. We were both big for our age and had no trouble getting fitted with army uniforms that were all made for adult men. Then on a certain day in summer our company boarded the train (which was already filled with other members of the regiment from P.A. and district) and we proceeded on to Dunhern (south of Saskatoon) where we had to march several miles from the station to the campsite. To our surprise (D & I) some of the men fainted from the heat and unaccustomed exercise (each man had to carry his own gear). After our arrival at camp, D & I were detailed to be waiters in the sergeants' mess. I suspect that someone knew we weren't 18 and gave us a relatively "cushy" job. Privates had to line up for meals and got everything dumped on their tinplate but the sergeants all sat down at tables in a special tent and were served by us waiters. Also, because of our special duties we were excused from daily drill. However we did participate in war games and I remember undergoing practice firing a machine gun. As far as I can remember your father and I were the only underage "men". I must tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Dundern Camp. I loved the comaradrie of being with all these (mostly) young men & besides for the first time since arriving at Rosthern in Nov./25 (almost 4 years) I had money to spend. D & I both learned to smoke (we could buy cigarettes at the canteen for some 15 or 20 cents a pack of 20). We also learned to drink beer. The sergents had to buy their own beer, but bought it by the case and since we waiters served it to them we could set some aside for ourselves. I was sorry when it was all over! I never got to much of a beer drinker but I smoked off and on till I was 65. On May 2nd 2001, Peter had this to say about a photo of Dundern Military Campt at church parade on July 14, 1929: I can't say that I remember the day this picture was taken but the background of sandy hillocks and scattered brush is exactly like the memory image in my mind. The authorities probably chose this site because the land was considered more or less of a wasteland. How long ago it all was! Don lived at home on the farm until until 1933 when he started worked for Dave Lariviere for $15 per month. In the winter he worked in the bush hewing ties for th CPR. In the spring of 1934 Don went into business with is brother, Alex. They owned the frame blacksmith shop and lot in the hamlet of Paddockwood. That venture lasted a year and a half before he returned home to the farm.  A life-changing event happened in 1937 when the tractor which he was operating somehow ran over his leg. (The rumour is that he had stayed out all night partying, but that was no excuse for sleeping late in the Murray household.) The bone didn't set properly so his father sent him to the Winnipeg General Hospital where his uncle, Dr. Angus A. Murray, was an orthopedic surgeon. During the three months he spent in the hospital in Winnipeg he met a nurse named Zelly Shewfelt, who was in the process of getting paperwork finished so she could go to Detroit, Michigan to take up a nursing position at the Children's Hospital.. After a year of recuperating at the farm while still helping out during a poor farming season on the dry Saskatchwan prairie, Don left Saskatchewan and met Zelly, who was back in Narcisse for the Thanksgiving vacation. Don and Zelly went to Winnipeg and were married on the 24th November 1938 after which Zelly returned to Detroit to continue nursing while Don went to Windsor to wait for his visa to join Zelly in the U.S. He spent the winter selling vacuum cleaners for Electrolux (Canada Limited). Click here to see the letter of recommendation written by the Electrolux Branch Manager when he left the company. In May 1939 his visa came through and Don was able to live in the U.S. He immediately started to look for work. He spent two unsuccessful weeks in Kirland Lake and ended up broke before hitch-hiking back to Detroit and taking up a position selling vacuum cleaners for Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company. He only worked a short time for Hoover and then moved on to Sears Robuck where he stayed for five months. His next job was with Hall Baking Company where he worked from Nov. 1939 until Feb. 15, 1946. (Click here to see contract.) During the time that Don and Zelly were in Detroit three children were born to them. The first daughter was born during the first week that he earned a decent wage ($100.) They had prepaid the medical expenses involved in having a baby, but unfortunately it was a difficult birth and they had to come up with extra money to pay the fees. Apparently they didn't want to allow the mother and child to leave the hospital until the fee was paid, but installments were finally arranged. Two sons followed. There were anxious moments when the second son had spinal menegitis shortly after he was born. The Murrays lived in Detroit during World War II. Don tried to enlist in the airforce but was rejected because of color blindness. He worked hard at Hall Baking and and was able to save money. The family were able to travel during the summers, one vacation being to Kansas to visit Hugh and Ada Murray (Don's brother and sister-in-law). In the summer of 1943 Don was able to help his parents with the mortgage on the farm. They had farmed through the depression and the interest on the mortage was adding up to much more than the original loan. Don negotiated with the bank until he got the interest to a reasonable level and gave the bank $1600 to pay off the loan. His parents signed an agreement with him to pay him the money. On the 19th of Dec. 1944, Donald Frank Murray filed petition for naturalization and paid the fee of $8.00. He was naturalized befor the District Court of the United States at Detroit, Michigan, January 25, 1945 (Certificate No. 6348911). Sometime in the spring or summer of 1945 one of the drivers for Hall Baking was in an accident and need a blood transfusion quickly. Don was asked to donate blood but they did not test his blood before he did so. He ended up on sick leave for several months which were spent back on the farm in Saskatchewan. In the fall of 1945 Don purchased a Ford DX Tudor. (Click to see a copy of the Certificate of Title of a Motor Vehicle.) On the 2nd of October 1945 Donald F. Murray made an agreement with Alex Murray, of Paddockwood, Saskatchewan to sell his share of the Paddockwood business that they had not been operating for about ten years. Alex had served in the armed forces during World War II. The terms of the agreement were that Don would be paid $515 in two installments: $250.00 on the 1 March 1946 and $265 on or before the 1st day of July 1946. The Imperial Bank of Canada in Prince Albert, Sask. wrote him a letter on August 14/52 saying : We wish to advise you that Mr. A. H. Murray has paid his liability in full, and we have today cancelled the Guarantee Bond which you signed on his behalf. During 1945 Don's brother, Angus, talked him into buying into a service station business in Longview, Alberta, Canada. Angus wrote him a letter on Dec.1st, 1945 giving him particulars about the busines:
Dec. 1st 45
Dear Don & Zelly & family,East Coulee, Alta Just some of the Dope on this new garage of which you will be a partner. The Garage itself is a very good building the size is 30' by 70'. It sheet metal outside and half of it is sealed and insulated. It connected to the service station by one door. The floor is half cement and half plank. The service station is 24' x 50' stucco bulding with a 12' - 14' office which you have private entrance. We are on the corner of two highways.  The nearest car dealership is about 30 miles. We have orders for ??? as soon as we can get them. Farm machinery would sell good here. Also if we can find time to look after it. The license department and the former owner sell licenses for $130.00 a year. We have several orders with the oil drilling, and oil well companies. The terms are as said $5500.00 cash of which we have already given them $1000.00. The balance of this to be paid on the 2 of January 46. The remainder at 4% per annum. The lease on the land is $20.00 a month. a longtime lease. It would be a good idea to send the money up as soon as you can or if you are not Interested let me know as the $1000.00 of mine goes if we don't go through with the deal so you see I have to keep it rolling somehow. There are too many interested in it right now so you see I don't want to lose it. If you want to stay down there till spring well just suit yourself But you would definitely have to be there for the summer and I don't mean July if we are going to catch the sales. When you come up and can get them buy some wrenches as they are hard to get here. I guess thats about all for tonight. I am awful tired. I have been going from 7:30 this morning working in Garage and the hour is late now so I guess I will close for now. So write and let me know what you think . it a big jump But not as bad for you as its for me. As I'm putting everything I got into it thats how good I think it is. hoping this is what you wanted. As Ever your Bro. Angus Don left Hall Baking Company the middle of February 1946 and prepared to leave Detroit for Canada. He had been a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers and he received an Honorable Withdrawal Card from the union on the 20th February 1946. Much of the furniture was sold and the balance of the family possessions that they could not carry with them was shipped by the Grand Trunk Western Railway Company and the Canadian Pacific Railway Co. in one trunk and one box. The Way Bill was dated February 26th. The family had to delay their departure for some days because of a quarantine caused by the children having the Red Measles. When the quarantine was lifted everyone piled into the 41 Ford leaving their home at 1419 West Forest in Detroit and traveled to Longview, Alberta, Canada. They crossed the border at Coutts, Alberta on the 4th March, 1946. The house in Longview was right next to the service station. It was quite a come down from the rented house in 
Detroit. It was a small two bedroom house with an outdoor toilet.
In the kitchen there was a small pump to get water. There
was no telephone in the house although there was a telephone in the
garage - not a dial up telephone like in Detroit. When you lifted
the receiver off the hook an operator said, "Number, please."
There was no refrigerator and food that needed to be kept cold
was put in a hole dug in the ground outside.A daughter was born a year after the family moved to Longview. She was born in Turner Valley because there was no hospital in Longview. The Murray business was called Esso Motor Inn. How quickly did the business start showing a profit? Don sold bonds that were invested with the Imperial Bank of Canada at Rosthen, Saskatchewan on April 6th, 1946 and received a draft for $354.49. Were the funds needed for the business or were they needed for living expenses? As well as doing mechanical work, and selling gas the business became a Chev dealership. Longview was the center of a huge ranching district, but it also benefited from the oil industry. It had boomed because of the discovery of oil in the vicinity in 1937. However with the discovery of oil in Leduc, many of the people involved in the oil industry began moving out. Many of the houses were moved elsewhere, and from a population of 2500 in the boom time the population dwindled. Things did not work out between Angus and Don so after a year Don bought Angus out and continued running the business until 1948 when he sold out. In March 1948, Don and Eddy Gordon (the bookkeeper for Esso Motor Inn) went into partnership and bought a service station in Brooks, Alberta naming it Murray Gordon Motors. As well as being a service station Murray Gordon Motors was a Dodge DeSoto dealership.  
They picture above shows Murray Gordon Motors with the
inventory of 1949 Dodge cars and trucks. It was on the corner of 2nd Street west and 2nd Avenue.To the left is a picture of Eddy Gordon and D. F. Murray with a new1948 Dodge car that was driven in the parade (held on Farmer's day - June 9th each year). Don went to Brooks at the beginning of March and then late in May went back to Longview and moved his family to Brooks. They traveled to Brooks in a half ton truck with their belongings in the back. It poured rain and the roads were muddy. For the first while they lived in a motel and then they moved into a small rented home on 2nd Avenue about 3rd street east. In November of 1948 Don's parents and sister moved to Brooks and the two families moved to a duplex on 1st street east (second house north of third Ave.). Murray Gordon Motors grew over the next few years. They bought land across the street and the houses were torn down and they used this land for a used car lot. They began to sell farm machinery as well. Minneapolis Moline was one of their farm machinery lines. Don, along with his partner, worked hard building up the business, but he still made time for civic affairs. He was elected to Brooks Town Council on Feb. 28, 1949 for a one year term (replacing a councilor that had resigned.) He was sworn in on March 7, 1949. He was re-elected on Feb. 27, 1950 for a three year term which ended March 2, 1953. He ran once more for one of the two council positions available but came in third. During his time on town council a new post offiice was opened and Don officiated at the opening ceremony.  On the 4th June 1952 Donald F. Murray signed an agreement with The Eastern Irrigation District to purchase Lot 7, Block 0 Plan Brooks for a residence. A house was built on the lot and the family moved from the duplex to 515 - 2nd Ave. west. In January 1959 Don and Eddy opened Murray Gordon Machinery. Sometime during that year they sold Murray Gordon Motors and moved to a new place of business further north on second street west. The dealership sold Massey Ferguson farm machinery and at some point began selling Volkswagon cars. During 1959 and 1960 Don was President of the Brooks Lion's Club and about the same time was the Chairman of the Board of Stewards for the Brooks United Church. In the Monday Feb 1, 1962 edition of the Brooks Bulletin there is a picture of Donald F. Murray, who was chairman of the board of stewards when the church was started, burning the $30,000 mortgage note that was the final obligation on the new church when it was built in 1959. In March 1960 he was named the town's representative on the province's Industrial Development Board. In 1960 - 1961 he held the position of President of the Brooks Curling Club. In the February 9th, 1961 edition of the Brooks Bulletin there was the following: Don Murray and Ed Gordon of the firm that bears their name - Murray Gordon Machinery - jointly announced the pending change in their company this week, when it will continue under the sole management of Mr. Murray. Ed Gordon plans to return to the automotive field and is considering an automobile dealership in one of South Alberta's main centres. The name of the business became D. F. Murray and Sons Machinery Ltd. He continued his involvement in the community. In 1962 he was president of the Lake Newell District Scout Council. He served as Worthy Patron of the Helen Chapter of the Eastern Star during 1963-1964. In 1964 he was Exalted Ruler of the B.P.O.E. (Elks Club). The Books Bulletin on Thursday, June 18th, 1964 carried a full page advertisement announcing the grand opening of a new business called Big Twin Motors (Brooks) Ltd.. There was also an article which said, A name well known in farm equipment and automotive circles in the district will head Big Twin Motors (Brooks) Ltd. as it officially opens in a brand new bulding June 25, 26, and 27th. Don F. Murray, president of D. F. Murray & Sons Machinery Ltd., is president of the new Ford-Mercury dealers, and his two sons also are associated with the new Company. The 5,000 square feet arch rafter building is located immediately south of the machinery company's premises in north Brooks; the building features modern design and the new stress-skin panel roofing. In addition to the complete Ford and Mercury lines, the firm will handle White Rose oils, greases and gasolines. Mr. Murray, who has been in the automobile and farm machinery business in Brooks or the past 16 years, said that Brooks "is one of the most progressive towns in Western Canada," and was optimistic for the continued growth and expansion of business in this district. A picture of the new building was also in the paper.  In
February 1968 Newell Vegetables Ltd. was formed after almost two years
of preparation and Donald F. Murray became the board chairman.
Over the next few years he spent much time building and promoting
the business while still maintaining his own business. He and a
plant manager made a trip to Ottawa to apply for a grant at one point.In 1970 Don decided to run for the conservative party in the Provincial Election. He gained the nomination but when the election came along he was unable to defeat the Social Credit member. Big Twin Cattle Co. Ltd. was formed to compliment Big Twin Motors and D. F. Murray and Sons Machinery. Don and Zelly split up in 1972. He purchased a house a few blocks away (3rd Ave. and 9th Street West) and Zelly stayed in the house they had moved into in 1953. They never were divorced. A plaque from the Town of Brooks was engraved: Presented To Don Murray In Appreciation of Service To The Town of Brooks As a Member of The Municipal Planning Commission 1984 - 1986. One of his hobbies over the years was bird hunting. He shot ducks, geese and pheasants. His brother, Bob, and others came each year to hunt with him.  Don and his Brother Alex and Friend after an Early Morning Shoot  After
the autombile and farm machinery business were sold, Don
worked as farm manager for Lakeside Feeders and then worked for the
local Pontiac dealer selling cars. He was working at Community
GMC on July 1988 and a picture of him with his Dodge Dakota Pickup was
featured on their 1991 calendar.In his later years he became an avid gardener, raising roses, raspberries and vegetables. He planted his garden very early in the spring and was proud of the fact that his peas were up very early. His last few years were not easy, due to his health. He had always been independent and in control and it was very hard for him to accept his situation. He passed away on the 5th December 1995 in the Brooks Nursing Home. Donald F. Murray from the Brooks Bulletin 
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