Murray O'Toole

Ignacio and former Durango resident Murray O'Toole died of complications from kidney stones at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango Colo., on Saturday, April 16, 2011, surrounded by his family. He was 55.

Murray O'Toole was born to Quentin O'Toole and Irma Henry O'Toole in Madison, S.D., on September 12, 1955.

Murray was raised on his family's farm near Winfred, S.D. He loved the farm and loved being outdoors as much as possible. Murray was born with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities. He walked with crutches and braces from the waist down until he was 40. He worked with his parents on the farm doing every task within his ability, to the best of his ability, with dedication until he had completed the task. He enjoyed working, being busy and feeling that he was helping his family on the farm. Murray became wheelchair-bound at 40 when his body was no longer strong enough to support walking. He was cared for by his parents in their home until 1996 when their advanced age made it impossible for them to continue to care for him. After living briefly in a care center in Madison S.D., Murray moved to Durango in Sept 1997 and became a client of Community Connections Inc.

Murray had a special bond with animals and especially loved his cats and dogs. Murray was extremely proud of his Irish heritage and name and was sure to tell everyone he met "I'm Irish!". Murray had beautiful, expressive, twinkling blue eyes that expressed his personality and are what people commented on most and remember most about him. His favorite story was the time he was left on his dad's tractor for safety while his dad helped a cow deliver a calf. When it started getting dark and looked stormy Murray got scared and decided he needed to get back to the house. He had never driven any vehicle but was a keen observer. Somehow in braces from the waist down he managed to start the tractor, stand on the clutch to push it in and put the tractor in gear. He was unable to figure out how to lift the plow attached to the tractor so he plowed a furrow across the field and then a pasture while descending a steep hill into a creek bottom. When his terrified mother saw him and told him to stop that tractor and turn it off he did so immediately, to her great relief. Somehow he had avoided tipping the tractor over on a very steep hill. He was so proud of himself and loved to laugh when he told this story. Murray had a great sense of humor.

Murray loved to play baseball with his family in the front yard after dinner on long summer evenings. Since he could not stand and swing a bat without his crutches, his dad tied him to a post so he could stand and have both hands free to swing. He was a very good hitter. He enjoyed shooting clay pigeons with his mother's 410 and was a very sure shot. Murray loved participating in skiing, fishing, rafting, canoeing, camping and houseboat trips on Lake Powell with Adaptive Sports Association. He skied with Special Olympics and rode with Cadence Therapeutic Riding. Murray loved music, and as a young man had a good singing voice.

Murray was preceded in death by his parents Quentin and Irma O'Toole, who cared for him for more than 41 years.

Murray is survived by his sister Gail Schulz and her husband Marlo of Durango, Colo.; his much loved host family with whom he lived, Chrissy Thorpe and Richard Lombardo, who were his primary caregivers; and housemates Whitney Mir and Shane Zimmerman of Ignacio, Colo., several cousins and many friends.

Father Jim Koenigsfeld will officiate the funeral Mass at St. Columba Catholic Church, Durango Colo., on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at 10:00 am. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Howard S.D.