It is with great sadness that the family announce that Philip Ronald Murray, age 77, of Sylvester, formerly of Avondale Station Pictou County, has passed away from his long battle with cancer on December 16, 2025 in the Aberdeen Hospital with his family by his side.

Phil was an electrician by trade and a member of the IBEW local 625. Recently Phil received his 50 years pin of service award and recognition from IBEW. His employment took him to various electrical construction sites, such as Point La Pro, NB, and Trenton Works until the closure of the plant. His last job was working on the Alberta oil fields up to his retirement.

He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Normandy Branch 34, New Glasgow for over 50 years.

Phil had a great passion for all outdoors activities, allowing him to become a leader for Scouts Canada, and enjoying all the adventures they went on. But his biggest passion was four wheeling and ski-dooing with his family and Pictou County ATV Club friends, for which he was a member. He had many adventurous trips on the trails in Nova Scotia, but his greatest adventure was skidooiing in Quebec and ATVing in Newfoundland with his brother Ralph. These were trips he had treasured the most making memories with his brother. If there was a run coming up, he’d be on it.

Phil would really enjoy going to his camp with Darlene whether it be that they were getting firewood, doing repairs, four-wheeling, having friends in or just simply staying at the camp, where it was so peaceful and enjoying each others company.  From the beginning of Phil’s illness, Darlene was with him when going through treatments in hospital and at home.  She was with him almost every day while in Halifax and Aberdeen hospitals for the last seven weeks.  Very seldom would you see one without the other throughout their 22 years together.

Every Wednesday morning, he would connect with his coffee buddies at Tim Hortons, where lots of laughs and stories were being shared.

Most times Phil would be found in his garage or “workshop” tinkering on his beloved truck or just working on some project of his. His most recent and greatest craftsmanship was building his wooden wishing wells.

Anything to do with history, Phil was your go to history buff guy. He had a great interest in history and enjoyed reading or watching it. He was a man with many talents and interest in life.

His family were by far the most important to him. Though he wasn’t able to see his grandson‘s Grayson and Mason, as much as he would have liked, for they lived in Ontario, they were very dear to his heart. Family meant everything to Phil. He will be dearly missed by his couch or bed buddy our cat, “Baby Boot”.  Everywhere Phil was, Baby Boot was with him.

Phil is survived by his loving partner Darlene MacKinnon, his son Timothy (Jade) Ontario, grandsons, Grayson and Mason, brother Ralph (Eva) Westville, nieces Vanessa Cameron (Dwayne) Sylvester, their children, Avery and Charlie, Natalie Hale (Mike) Alberta, their children, Emma and Tristan and nephew Stephen Murray, New Brunswick, his children, Zachary and Arion. He is also survived by several cousins in Canada and England.

He is predeceased by his parents, Allan and Evelyn (Seager) Murray, his paternal grandparents, Fred A. and Mary Loretta (Lottie) Murray, his maternal grandparents, William John and Alice (Browning) Seager, England. His uncles Pte. Lawrence R. Murray, Dereck (Claire) Seager, England, Reginald (Janet) Seager, England, Wally (Gladys) Seager, England, Basil Seager, England and half uncles Bert, George and Sydney Seager, England, his aunt Grace (Kenneth) Roy, Hilda (Pat) Lucas, England and Doreen Seager, England.

The family would especially like to thank all the doctors and nurses at the Victoria General and Aberdeen Hospital for all their compassionate care during Phil’s stay in the hospital. We would also like to thank the VON for coming into our home every day over the summer. We really appreciate everything that everyone has done to take care of Phil.

                                                                     “Forever in our Hearts”

 

In honour of Phil’s love for animals, donations may be made to the Pictou County SPCA.

Cremation has taken place, a funeral service will be held in the Spring, with details posted at a later date.