It has been a year of firsts.
First Christmas without you, first anniversary without you,
I miss you so much and your presence is always with me.
In fact there are fleeting moments that i think you are still here and just away at work.
You are always on my mind. I often talk to you and think what would Rick do in this situation'
The pain is lessening some and I am recalling many, many lovely memories.
Love you Rick
 

But remembering Rick as a real good friend ! I think back to memories of times we had in Dubai. Thinking of the good times we had when we played hockey , tennis or even Fridays at the beach !
In hockey Rick was a great team player, in tennis he was always a worthy opponent. In our get togethers with you Carol and Rick, both Donna and myself have some very fond memories.
Rick had a very good sense of humour and could always see the comical side of an event or happening. Always made life interesting!
 

August the 29th ...1969
In Sparks Neveda
Rick and I got married 
i miss you and think of you everyday.
You are always on my mind.
 

Life is an opportunity
benefit from it.
Life is Beauty,admire it.
Life is a dream realize it.
Life is a challenge,meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise,fulfill it.
Life is sorrow,overcome it.
Life is  a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle,accept it.
Life is a tragedy,confront it.
Life is an adventure,dare it.
Life is luck,make it.
Life is too precious
do not destroy it.
Life is life fight for it.
Mother Theresa
 

MY DEAR RICK,
MY LIFE PARTNER, I MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY.
I WANTED ANOTHER 20 YEARS WITH YOU BY MY SIDE.
YOU WERE MY FRIEND, MY MENTOR, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.
I SHALL I CARRY ON,FOR THE REMAINING SEASONS OF MY LIFE,
THERE ARE MANY MOMENTS I CAN THINK OF THE TWO OF US TOGETHER.
WE HAD QUITE A LIFE TOGETHER 45 YEARS.
I WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED A THING.
BECAUSE SINCE I MET YOU BABY' MY WHOLE LIFE HAS CHANGED.
 

He's in Heaven and he is all around us.
He can come out of the Portals anytime.
He watches over us when we sleep and is our Guardian Angel.

Riley Murphy our grandson's words spoken to his Aunt Tracy.
 

I had the pleasure of first meeting Rick in Dubai when I worked offshore at Dugas in 1988. Then again in Indonesia where we spent the better part of nine years working on the same projects, then a short lived job in Tanzania. Whenever I needed help with computers or budgets, Rick was the first guy I would go to as he was always willing to help me out when it came to things like that as I didn't have the experience that he did. I will miss our email banter and phone calls as we would always have some laughs. He was truly one of the good guys you meet in life.

RIP Pak Rick, you will be missed.

When my grandfather passed away (William Michael Murphy) I had a dream... I dreamt I was in Sparwood (where grandpa spent many wonderful days with us).  I dreamt that I had arrived home to our house in Sparwood, I opened the front door and walked into my familiar surroundings.  I walked through the front entry, passed the kitchen and into the living room.  At the far corner of the living room was the stairs that led up to my room, I walked up the stairs.  At the top of the stairs was the door to the bathroom, everything was so familiar and comfortable.  I was compelled to walk calmly through the bathroom door.  I opened the door and there on the 'otherside' stood my grandpa Bill.  I ran into his arms and was immediately held in his arms. 

I knew that this was my grandfather, I could smell his familiar after shave.  I pressed my face into his chest, into his plaid shirt (he always wore a plaid shirt).  I felt loved and safe as I always had in his arms. 

Grandpa told me that he was okay and I beleived him.  With all my heart I believed him and trusted in his word.

Today, I know that my uncle Rick is safe and is okay.  Though we all miss him greatly, especially his children and his wife, Carol.  I want my message to everyone to be that he is okay.  That his arms are still embrassing us with love (especially Carol and his children) and that he is with my grandfather (his dad) and they are okay     

I don't know if Grandpa ever sang Big Rock Candy Mountain to Rick when he was little, but Grandpa sang it to me and Keith.  Now that Rick  is together with his dad in heaven, I believe, in my heart, that they must have sung this song, at least once, upon their reunion.  It is the song that I identify with Grandpa Bill.

I have always believed my uncle Rick to be a superhero... Love you, Rick

Sending Rick private messages.

Some of Rick's ashes were spread at the duck pond in Osoyoos. This place was a regular place visited by Rick and all after dinner. The dogs also came for a walk.

Guests wrote a short private message for Rick. These were attached to balloons and the released.

A private family ceremony was held on April 4 at lake Osoyoos.

I’ll always remember my grandpa as the man who helped me take my first steps and watched me grow. We shared a love for dogs, and for nature. I will always keep our memories locked up in my heart, until the day I get to see him again. The memories of cherry picking, and eating treats at dairy queen. Long dog walks, and hours of putting puzzles together. These are the moments I will cherish forever. And I knew one day he would have to go, but never knew it would be so soon. And I’m sad to say that I never really knew how much I loved him, and how important he was to me until he had to leave. He was, and always will be my hero. But I’m not going to be sad, because he is still here. I talk to him when I wake up, on the way home from school, and before I go to bed. He is the best listener in the world. I know he will take care of me. I won’t remember him as he was in his last few days, but as the grandpa who always cracked jokes and knew how to cheer me up. Take care grandpa, and remember what Winnie the Poo says: You are braver then you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter then you think. See you soon, grandpa stampede.
Love,
Shayna

When you're alone in the woods, it's like your loved one is lost.
Then when you try to find them, you notice they're not around.
As you think about it, your skin gets goose bumps and it's hard to think.
The pain keeps going on and on until you just stop worrying about it.
You don't forget, you just have that thought.
But when you see cherries you still remember because you used to always
go cherry picking with him and the kids. But you have to keep living with the loss.
We absorb all the things about people, the most amazing people you have lost.
One day you're talking to the loved one, sick one, the next day it is like he vanished.