Murray

I wanted to let you all know that our friend and fellow “Ragged Rogue” Murray Donaldson passed away yesterday afternoon with Tracy and his daughter Skye at his bedside.  We were fortunate to have had a chance to visit with him last Wednesday for a couple of hours when he was still coherent and able to talk and even laugh a little with us.  Peter, Bentley and I went there yesterday and although he was asleep most of the time, we know he was aware that we were there and clutched our hands tightly.  We played for several hours and felt very fortunate to be able to help him in his passing.  Peter played on Murray’s grandfather’s fiddle, which Murray had given to him recently.  His best friend since childhood, Linus, and his brother Jim, both had flown down from Canada and were there along with Murray’s other daughter Jesse. His sister and her husband and niece had spent time with him and had left back for Canada that morning.  He had many of his friends there the last week and some of the musicians played for him. Peter was the last one to play with Murray when he was still able to do so.

Tracy felt like this past week couldn’t have been a better send-off party, which is what Murray wanted.  He requested his ashes be scattered off a ferry somewhere up in Canada with a big party. There are some tunes we’ll never play without thinking of Murray — especially his favorite — Canadian tunes!  He recorded a CD of himself playing his favorite songs recently, so let us know if you would like a copy.