When Weighty Things Happen

There are a handful of days in a person's life that have a lasting effect on all of the rest.  These days wake up many, many slumbering memories and cause a deep kind of reflection and remorse and rejoicing as the mind handles each one.  These days beg you to consider the meaning of life and the significance of death.  They beg you to reconsider what is most important and what is less.  Emotions, questions, assurances, hopes, images and stories from the past -these all flow in and out, around and through, day after day after day.  Eventually you feel completely drenched and weighted down, yet they just keep coming.

I had one of those days this week.

Whether a few seconds, or a few decades, this life is short.  I'm grateful to feel so sure that there is more.  There has been more and there will be more.  This understanding makes all the difference.



As published in Ithaca Journal from December 3 to December 4, 2009:

TRUMANSBURG - Kenneth W. Murray, of 3112 Jacksonville Rd., Trumansburg, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at the age of 79.


Born on July 18, 1930 in Montour Falls, Kenneth was the son of the late Robert and Florence (Conover) Murray. He enjoyed spending time outdoors. Having been raised on a farm in Reynoldsville, his love of animals was carried through in the raising of cattle and horses at his home in Trumansburg. In the summer, Kenneth could be found camping across New York State, while in the winter he gathered with friends and family to go snowmobiling. He was an avid snowmobiler and looked forward to the first snowfall of the winter.


During the Korean War, he served in the US Marine Corps. Kenneth and his brother-in-law, Don Stevens, were owners and proprietors of Stevens and Murray Service Stations in Ithaca. Together they worked tirelessly, establishing many gas stations throughout the Ithaca area. In later years, he traveled extensively across the United States. Kenneth was a lifelong member of the American Legion Post #770 in Trumansburg.


In addition to his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, on February 16, 1993; two brothers, Robert and Donald Murray; and a sister, Kathleen Stevens. He is survived by three children, Carol (Tim) Megivern of Coco, Florida, Ken (Laurie) Murray of Trumansburg, and Ted (Karen) Murray of Trumansburg; eight grandchildren, Jeff, Sara, Lindsay, Jordan, Olivia, Elise, Tyler, and Shauna; two great-grandchildren, Nolan and Gerret; brother-in-law, Don Stevens; sister-in-law, Helen Murray; companion of the past 10 years, Pauline Dubock; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.


The family will be present to receive friends on Saturday, December 5, 2009, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg. Funeral Services and burial will be private.