Jamie Brendan Murphy was a good natured man, who had the most amazing smile that could make anyone feel like they had known him forever. He loved telling jokes and making people happy. His sense of humour was wonderful and as a child he brought a new joke home from school everyday.

Jamie grew up with his parents, brother and two sisters in a house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Conception Harbour, NL. Exceedingly warm and friendly to everyone he met, Jamie placed family and friends first throughout his life.

Jamie was also looking forward to the next part of his life with his wife in Petawawa. They had signed the papers to purchase their first home together on his last leave. The happy couple had also been trying to start their own family. Though his time was cut short he had been a grandson, son, brother, uncle, loving partner and best friend to all.

By nature Jamie was strongly competitive and being part of a team was important to him. There was a time when he was driving his Firebird – a car he absolutely loved – to a ball tournament with his baseball team, “The Stags.” His car caught fire on the way to the tournament. Determined not to let his teammates down, Jamie shrugged his shoulders, said, “Oh well,” grabbed his gear out of the trunk and caught a ride with some other players. The Firebird was towed home for him while he continued on to play ball.

Jamie loved kids most of all and they loved him equally. Jamie had seven nieces and nephews with a line-up of many others who called him “Uncle Jamie.” He was able to see the best in all situations and always took a positive outlook in life. It was natural for him, and his family adored how he treated everyone with kindness and respect. A strong and enthusiastic team player in work, sports and life, Jamie was a proud soldier, who felt honoured to serve his country.

He knew that the mission in Afghanistan was important and significant, and he was well aware of the risks. Jamie felt strongly about his responsibility to serve alongside his fellow soldiers and he never failed to be empathetic and compassionate to others.

On the way home from his tour in Kosovo, Serbia, Jamie saw an elderly man on the side of the road without a coat in the middle of winter. Jamie had recently been given a new winter coat and he insisted on stopping and giving the elderly man his coat, scarf and mittens. It was the compassionate thing to do and was a big part of Jamie’s character.

Big and strong on the outside caring and kind on the inside, Jamie had applied to both a trade school and the army when he was just out of high school. When the armed forces replied first, he made the decision to take that path.

Jamie has been honoured in many ways over the years, by having a street and a park named after him, his face painted in portraits, a tree planted in his name, as well as countless other smaller but still significant memorials. Most importantly he is forever honoured by his family and friends in Newfoundland and those from his home in Petawawa, who have never stopped speaking his name. Though Jamie is gone all that knew him from his hometown of Newfoundland to his home in Petawawa miss him and love him dearly. He still manages to bring a smile to the faces of all his family, friends and military brothers.

By Sheryl A. Campbell

Portrait by Cindy Revell