ELIZABETH McKELLAR SPENCE MURRAY

1946 - 2025

Our family is sad to announce the passing of Elizabeth McKellar Spence Murray on April 13th, 2025. Elizabeth was born on March 1st, 1946, in Toronto to Dr. Peter McKellar Spence and Isobel Spence (née Forrest). Shortly after, the family moved to Fort William where Liz and her brother Charlie grew up. The family spent summers at Loon Lake. Liz studied at Fort William Collegiate Institute and then the University of Toronto, making lifelong friends at both. Liz also studied art at OCAD and continued drawing throughout her life. Liz married Ross Murray on December 28th, 1967. After living in Toronto, they moved back to Thunder Bay to raise their three children (Jill, Andrea and Peter). The kids, and later grandkids, grew up spending time at Loon Lake. Loon is a place of many memories for Liz with family (including Spence relatives), neighbours and friends. Liz taught high school English at Westgate and St. Patrick's. She loved teaching, especially Shakespeare, and often had the students act out scenes from plays. Liz never stopped learning and reading. In retirement, she completed her Master of Arts at Lakehead and started her Ph.D at York University. She was a sessional lecturer at Lakehead for many years. Liz and Ross travelled in retirement, often to London and Paris and spent extended periods visiting Victoria. Liz loved spending time with Jill and family, going for long walks with Ross and catching up with old friends. During COVID, Liz and Ross moved to Toronto to be closer to Andrea and Peter and their families. Liz loved walks with friends around Boulevard Lake in Thunder Bay, near the Kaministiquia River, with Ann Donaldson, and later in High Park in Toronto with Barb Clegg. She enjoyed a 60-year correspondence with Frances Kumar in India. Liz was a lifelong volunteer including at the Canadian Cancer Association, Shelter House in Thunder Bay, and recently at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto. Liz loved spending time with her five grandchildren. She shared with them her love of reading, art, music and also her interest in fighting global warming. Liz leaves behind her husband Ross Murray; brother Charles Spence (Delene); sister-in-law Ann Murray; children Jill Murray (Dennis), Andrea Rae (Shawn) and Peter Murray (Lisa); nephew Alex Wright (Jenny); great niece and nephew Abby and George; grandchildren Isobel, Isaac, Lucas, Grace and Charlotte. Liz was predeceased by her parents Dr. Peter Spence (March 20, 1958) and Isobel Spence (March 21, 1968) and nephew Daniel Wright (September 30, 2017). The family wishes to thank Dr. Burkes, Janet Smith, Tess Collantes and the team at Mt. Sinai (including staff and volunteers) who provided excellent care to Liz throughout her ten-year journey with lung cancer. The family also thanks Dr. Delene Nelson for her advice and support. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mt. Sinai Hospital (sinaihealth.ca) in Toronto and Thunder Bay Regional Hospital (tbrhsc.net), oncology departments. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 25th at 2:00 p.m. at Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville). Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.