He had Alzheimer's.  It was a struggle for the past couple of years but he was feisty and he was stubborn.  He finished his last shift on the weekend. 

Murray Smail was 89 years old when he passed away. 

I shared his obituary on social media yesterday with the caption, "A true character with character.  His enthusiasm and love of community made Moose Jaw a better place." 

The tributes followed from names you'll recognize, from Clark Gillies and Jim Hrycuik to a number of other homegrown hockey players. 

Murray McCormack from the Leader Post remembered Murray from days gone by when he started at the Times Herald. 

"One of the first people I met when I moved to Moose Jaw in 1982", Murray wrote.  "He was so pleasant and made a transplanted guy from Ontario feel so welcome.  My condolences to the Smail family." 

And, my friend Farley added, "A prince of a guy!  I was young and my dad was an Elks member.  The kids Christmas party was held at Temple Gardens with Santa Claus.  Murray handed out presents to the kids.  I got a Sherwood hockey stick..." 

That's a nice way to be remembered, isn't it?