Obituary of Murray Frank Tatlow

Murray was born in the Resource, Saskatchewan area to Frank (deceased 1994) and Beatrice (Mattson) (deceased 1964) Tatlow. He was a lifelong farmer and lived for 60 years in the Resource area. He passed away peacefully, in Parkland Place, Melfort, SK at the age of 90.

Murray grew up on the family farm and attended Jones School, a small rural schoolhouse just across the road from the Tatlow farm.  He attended school and got the job of starting the stoves’ fire early each morning. He would have also been responsible for getting the wood and cleaning the stove of ashes.

The Tatlow house was a busy one. With eight children—Jim, Harvey, Kay, Murray, Raymond, Jean, Richard, and Sharon—and a thriving farm filled with cows, pigs, chickens, gardens, and all the daily chores of rural life, there was always work to do. Once old enough, Murray and Raymond and Richard had many responsibilities, including milking the cows.

It was not all work for Murray, though. As a young man, he played baseball with the Resource Cardinals, alongside teammates like Robert Henning and Harvey Cottrill. Growing up on a farm, Murray and his siblings or friends also found themselves in their fair share of trouble over the years.

As a young man in the mid-1950’s, Murray began farming with his father Frank and his brother Raymond. Grain farming and raising livestock kept Murray busy. In the early 1960’s he spent two winters on Vancouver Island helping his dad build houses on land Frank had purchased.

After returning to Saskatchewan, Murray continued to work on the family farm and soon embarked on new chapters in his personal life.

In 1963, Frank built a house west of Resource on Highway #6 known to family and friends as “the highway house.” Murray and Raymond operated their own cattle farm and a small feedlot on the south part of the quarter for several years.

Murray married Shirley Jean Lanctot (deceased) in the mid 1960’s and built his own house west of the highway house. Shirley had three young boys from her first marriage, Donald (deceased), Douglas, and Dean, who Murray adopted. They were married for several years and eventually separated.

Murray’s dad, Frank, took him, Richard, and Raymond on many fishing trips to Little Bear Lake, instilling in Murray a lifelong love of fishing. He made numerous fishing trips to Nipekamew, East Trout, and Zeden Lake, and always said if he got one fish in the boat in a day, he was happy. He enjoyed visiting the northern lakes with his Airstream trailer and fishing boat in tow.

In the 1990’s Murray met Emily Flett. They lived on Murray’s farm briefly, then moved into Melfort in 1995. His days now included commuting to the farm and learning golf. In the summers Murray’s sister Jean often came home for a visit and spent time on the golf course with him, and Emily joined him on fishing trips.

Murray also loved making beautiful wood furniture and was a master at it. He used his garage in town as his workshops. He crafted several pieces of furniture for his & Emily’s home, as well as many others that he gave to family and friends. These pieces were of such excellent quality that they will be passed down as family heirlooms, legacies of Murray. He also built many birdhouses over the years for the residents of Parkland Place to paint.

Murray was predeceased by two brothers, Jim & Harvey and his sister Kay (Nelson) Hill.

He is survived by his longtime partner Emily Flett, his brothers Raymond & Richard (Denise) and sisters Jean Tatlow (Roy Talbot) and Sharon (Larry) Heavin, sister-in-law Fran Tatlow, Marilyn (Kevin) Evans, Leanne (Paul) Christianson and many nieces & nephews, grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his quiet strength, generosity, and sense of humour. He was always willing to lend a hand to neighbours, share wisdom over a cup of coffee, or pause to admire a good crop and simple beauty of rural life.           

On October 24, 2025, a family committal service was held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and a come and go luncheon at the Melfort Legion.

Memorial contributions in memory of Murray may be directed to Parkland Place Residents Council, Melfort, Sask.

IN APPRECIATION

I would like to extend my  deepest  appreciation to Murray’s family and my family for all of the love and support.

Thank you to all who attended the Graveside Service and Gathering for family and friends, it meant so much.

My sincere appreciation for  the memorial contributions to Parkland Place Residents Council, for the flowers, food, cards, phone calls, the ladies serving lunch, and all of the hugs.

Thank you to Melfort Funeral Home for all your compassion and help.