“Growing up on a dairy farm,
you certainly learn discipline and a commitment to a purpose.”
Mike Johanns
Murray experienced this first hand. Murray Orton was born in Hamilton on Thursday, October 1, 1936 to parents William Orton and Francis Lillian (Wilson) Aikens. His family owned and operated a successful dairy farm just outside of Hamilton near Jerseyville. Here Murray joined older siblings Isabel, Lenore and Anne, with younger siblings John and Pat following soon after. He attended public school in Copetown before experiencing high school for a few months. However, Murray was made for life on the farm and not school. He returned home and began helping his dad on their family farm. Together they milked a Jersey herd of 60 and cared for the land. In time, Murray’s younger brother John joined them and the two eventually took over the farm. He loved the outdoors and was always in his element when he was at home on the farm. Murray had a strong work ethic and would often help other neighbouring farmers with custom work.
In 1975, Murray was attending a local dance when he was introduced to Barbara Anne Rennie. He loved his country music and really enjoyed dancing. That evening Murray asked Barb out for coffee and as they say, the rest is history. The two were married on July 8, 1977 at Zion United Church in Jerseyville. Barb and her two sons, Scott and Chad, joined Murray on the farm. The boys adapted well to farm life, they spent a lot of time with Murray, who was patient and loved the boys and enjoyed having them as part of his life. The couple soon welcomed Sarah in September, 1978 to complete their family, a real joy to Murray who took her with him whenever possible. Their special time together was going for green feed, he made up a song which he would sing to her while chopping the hay. Nobody else has ever heard this song, it was their special moments together.
In 1979, Murray and Barb found a 196 acre farm on Concession 13 in Bentinck Township, so the family moved north. Here he milked 30 – 35 Jersey cows for the next two decades. Their herd was sold in 1999 and Murray, not one to sit still, raised some beef cattle. When it came to machinery, Murray was not one to buy new machinery but instead bought older (International) equipment that he would enjoy fixing. He kept everything, never throw anything out, you never know when you might need it or a part from it. Strangely enough he could always find what he needed, though nothing was ever organized or tidy. A man of many talents, Murray was! Murray understood the importance of spending time with family and so every Sunday evening a student was hired to do chores, freeing Murray to do just that.
Of course, it goes without saying that Murray loved his cows, older country music and dancing. He loved Murray McLachlan’s “The Farmer Song” and of course belonged to the local Jersey Club and the Ontario Jersey Club. In his younger years he was an avid baseball player. In his spare time he enjoyed playing and watching baseball, watching hockey and catching up on the news. Murray was a meat and potato kind of guy who wasn’t much of a reader (often bragging that he never read a book in his life), although he faithfully read the Western Ontario Farm paper, The Jersey Breeder and of course the sports pages of the newspaper.
Murray was kind, honest and hardworking yet also laid-back. In his kindness to both people and animals Murray was also patient. He always had an outdoor four-legged companion, usually the farm dog, roaming with him on the farm. Murray loved being outside and considered the Elmwood farm his dream farm, even though he knew he had worked too hard, he also absolutely loved what he had done!
In 2010, Murray and Barbara sold the farm and moved into Chesley. Murray’s health soon began to decline as he developed Alzheimer’s. Barb continued to care for him at home until his final days. Murray passed away at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Chesley on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 in his 82nd year.
Beloved husband and best friend of Barb. Loving father of Scott (Donna) Rennie of R.R. #2 Chesley, Chad Rennie of Victoria, B.C. and Sarah Aikens (Ken Mucha) of Booneville, California. He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren Natasha (Nick), Jessica (Devon), Taylor (Clare), Kiernan and Heidi as well as great-grandchildren Desten and Nadia. Murray will be fondly remembered by his sisters Anne (George) Jarman of Jerseyville, Pat (Bill) Haslitt of Kingston and sister-in-law Rose Aikens of Hamilton. He was predeceased by his brother John, sisters Isabel (Bert) Beveridge, Lenore (Murray) Reeves and his parents William and Francis (Wilson) Aikens.
A Celebration of Murray’s Life will be held at the Klages Mill, Chesley (11 1st Ave. N.) on Saturday, January 6, 2018 from 1 – 4 p.m., with words of remembrance at 2 p.m.
Memorial donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Alzheimer Society would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
