Winthrop (Win) Murray
Winthrop P. Murray, Jr.
Winthrop P. Murray, Jr. died July 23, 2016 in Snohomish, Washington after a 14 year battle with Prostate Cancer. He was 57 years old.
Win was an Army brat, born in Fort Meade, Maryland and lived in Texas and Taiwan before his father retired in Boulder, Colorado in the 1960’s. He attended Boulder High and took courses for ski area management at Leadville Community College. In 2005 he and his wife Shelley, moved to Buena Vista, Colorado and in 2011 to Snohomish, Washington.
Over his working career he held many different jobs, the ones he enjoyed most were Security at Chautauqua Auditorium, his tile setting business, Win Murray Tile Setting, and the past five years representing Archoustics Mountain in the Seattle area.
Win had a passion for life, most especially skiing and his friends. He enjoyed many adventures, 4 wheeling, fishing, golf, dirt bike riding, “elbows on the bar” and anything else that caught his interest. During the past two years when he was told to slow down he took up kite flying and still made a mad adventure out of it. This past year he made it a point to return to Colorado to visit his friends and squeeze in just a few more adventures.
Win is survived by his wife of 23 years, Shelley Byington, his mother Eleanor Murray, his sisters Mary Liz Orella and Susan Mackenzie, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Winthrop P. Murray, Sr. His ashes will be scattered on his most memorable backcountry ski run, one where he once had a day alone and made his own powder tracks with no others around to mar their perfection, a satisfaction he never forgot.
A BBQ will take place in Boulder this fall (date not set yet) for everyone to get together and have some fun memories of Win.
A GoFundMe site has been set up to help with Win’s medical expenses from the last two years, gofund.me/2fb26zw any donation will be appreciated.
5 Responses to “Winthrop (Win) Murray”
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Dear Shelley! We just survived Vertex, the first (of many, we hope!) huge destination-style camping-concert on precious hay meadow grounds just west of BV. The permit was okayed for 20K attendees, 7500 or so showed this first year… I cannot tell you how many times I thought of how much Win would have to say about it… and remembered one of BV’s first Music Festivals with Hazel Miller in attendance… when he went into the Parrot and brought her out a margarita onto the stage…! And then I opened the paper to see the obituary… I am so sorry!
Unreal. I can’t believe Wyn is gone. He will never be gone from all my memories. All of us ski buddies of Wyn have been connecting over these last few days. We all want to be there in the fall and share our memories, and believe me, there are some great stories to tell. Wyn was a “one of a kind”. tons of fun and one of the best skiers I’ve ever known. When Wyn was with the crowd, everything was always better. Shelley, we all look forward to seeing you and are very sorry for your loss.
Dear Shelley and Win’s Family, My deepest condolences on Win’s passing. He was a character and unique person in life and lived it with fun. Fearlessly awesome on ski’s and the life of the party, actually he was the party!! Memories of Win on our Steamboat trips, A Basin and Eldora days, parties and TT tours (tavern to tavern) will always be with me.
My dear friend Shelley,
I am so sorry to hear about Win. I only met him once but he left a huge impression on me. I am so grateful that you and I met in college. You lived your life on your terms, which I thought was great. I always looked forward to your cards because they were always so unique/artsy and cool. I have saved them all.
Love,
Lynn Ann
Hi Shelley, I knew Win almost 30 years ago in Boulder when I was married to Barry Campbell. I think I met you, maybe. Ive been visiting stepchildren in the Seattle area since 1998. I wish I knew you guys lived there. The world will miss Win. He was always happy-go-lucky and fun to be around. So sorry for your loss. Susie Cysewski