Murray passed away peacefully at home, in Faro on November 20, with family beside him, after a battle with cancer.
Murray was born in Nakusp, B.C., the seventh of eight children of Frank Orld and Beatrice May (Coates) Hampton. He was predeceased by his brothers Bill, Orld and Herb and is survived by brothers Stan, Bob (Lala), and sisters Bea Wright and Marianne Routley. He is also survived by his wife June, daughter Fiona Slattery (Tom), son Craig and grandsons Brandon and Zachary Hampton.
Murray spent his early years in West Arrow Park B.C. before going to Comox, B.C. for a short time. His parents settled in Chase B.C. but Murray did most of his high school and his first year of University in Victoria, living with his older sister Bea. He then went to UBC, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Geological Engineering.
Murray then came to the Yukon, with his first job working in the Elsa-Keno area with Dr. Aaro Aho. In 1964-65 he worked at Mount Nansen. After marrying June in the fall of 1965 and a honeymoon around the world with her; they came to the Yukon in June of 1966 and he immediately started work in the Faro area with Anvil Mining Corp as an Exploration Geologist. He saw the original find developed into the Cyprus Anvil mine and the town of Faro built. He continued with the mine in various supervisory roles until the first closure in 1985.
He also became involved in the Town’s administration, even before it was officially a town; serving on the Advisory Committee and then being elected to Council in the first election in 1971 and served on Council continuously until the closure of the mine and the Town in 1985, serving the last two years as Mayor.
When the mine restarted in 1986, Murray took over managing all the housing for Faro Real Estate and saw the boom and bust of the Curragh and Anvil Range operations at the mine; with a final closure in 1998. He then worked vigorously with others to keep the town alive and to try to find other possible sources of employment. In 2002, when the Town lost its last visitor accommodation, he bought the former studio apartment building in partnership with Phyllis Shaw and converted it into a hotel with restaurant and bar. He continued to work at the hotel until shortly before his death.
Murray loved to explore other places and cultures and had visited over 70 countries and explored most of Canada as well. Throughout his life he made many trips; with his wife June, with their children and later with their grandsons and son-in-law. A cabin at Little Salmon Lake was his refuge and he loved the challenge of sailing on the lake as well as some fishing and berry picking.
The family would like to say thank you to Dr. Kanachowski and Dr. MacDonald as well as the Doctors at the B.C. Cancer Clinic and the chemo team at the Whitehorse Hospital. Also, a very special thank you to Matt, Jeannie, Sara, Martha, Wendy and Katy at the Faro Health Centre; the EMS Faro team; home care workers Lucy and Sheila; volunteers Sonny and Helena; and Andrea for the massages Murray so looked forward to. Plus, to the many other Faroites and Yukoners and other family members who offered support and help. You all made it possible for him to stay at home, in his own bed, for his final weeks; as he wished.
There will be no service per Murray’s request and his ashes will be scattered at the cabin and on Little Salmon Lake.
Donations in Murray’s memory can be made to the Yukon Hospital Foundation designated to the Yukoners Cancer Care Program.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Murray Orlin Hampton June 28 1938 November 20 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Whitehorse, Province: Colombie britanique