John Murray, or John Rhilochan, as he was better known, was born at Rhilochan on May 7, 1925, in the house where he would live all his days.
He was the second of Johan and Angie Murray's children, preceded by Marion, and followed by Bain, Margaret, Kate and Agnes.
John attended Rhilochan School until the age of 14, before joining his father in working on the croft. He suffered many childhood illnesses, but being a survivor, overcame them.
It was a hard-working household where the living was made from crofting, and though times were hard and money often short, friends and neighbours helped each other and shared whatever they had.
John also worked for his neighbour, Johnnie Bell, fencing all over the county, his job being to mell in the posts, a hard physical job for a man who was not very tall!
He also worked at Gordonbush estate for Mrs Tyser and later for her son, Richard.
All his life John had the same outlook - he would willingly help at any job he was asked to do. Even up to his late 70s, he attended many a peat cutting, always in the bank, the hardest job, and always making the neatest job of throwing out!
Rhilochan was a happy home, with lots of ceilidhs and crack; his father would be on the pipes, sisters on fiddle and accordion and numerous friends and neighbours frequently having a tune.
Although John didn't play an instrument himself, there was nothing he liked more than listening to Scottish music. Even in his last few months, he was still keen on his collection of tapes and CDs.
The family did seem to have more than their fair share of great sadness over the years. His sister, Margaret, died of diphtheria in 1930 aged only six months; his brother, Bain, drowned in 1931 aged just four years; Marion died in 1932 of meningitis aged eight years, and Agnes died tragically in a car accident in 1977.
John's father died in 1964, after which he continued to live at Rhilochan with his mother.
John had started courting Iline Mackay during the '50s, and in time they became engaged, however they were never to marry. John looked after his mother in her last illness and Iline hers, and by the time both had passed away, Iline herself was already very ill.
Sadly she passed away in 1985, less than a year after her own mother.
Although never having any family himself, John always loved children, and any child who ever entered the house left clutching a handful of money and sweets.
His six nieces and nephews had a great time at Rhilochan as children, and as only two could be accommodated at any one time, they visited on a rota system. Every three weeks, it would be your turn.
It was with much excitement the pair would board Donald Bell's school car and be dropped off at Rhilochan. At that time sweets were scarce at home but John would lay on the works. There would be bottles of ice-cream soda, lime-aid, cheese and onion crisps, Mars bars, juicy fruit and always a Saturday morning trip in the lime green Morris with two and six in our pocket for spending in Grant's Shop.
He had endless patience with all of them, teaching them to drive cars and tractors from the age of seven! Even when they went joyriding up the Knockarthur road, and even if the ditch was met, he never minded, never grumbling about pulling them out. He would let them build houses in the barn with the hay, put up swings and generally spoiling them.
In his late 70s, he finally decided to retire, but never lost interest in the sheep, and was delighted when cattle came back to the croft in recent years.
For the last few years, John's health deteriorated, but as had always been his way, he never grumbled, just accepted old age was upon him and made the most of this time.
When he felt fit, he would wander up the road to admire the stock.
As all his life, he still took great pleasure in visitors, they were welcomed into the house, sat down in front of a huge fire, and presented with a large dram. He loved the chat about crofting, the animals and the way things used to be.
Very sadly, John passed away on April 23 this year, after a short illness, in Raigmore Hospital.
His funeral was held, from his house at Rhilochan, very much in the tradition of all previous family funerals. A dram was offered to all before the service, and we know he would have approved.
Fortunately the weather was kind, a beautiful clear sunny day. This was a blessing in itself as the huge number of mourners could only be accommodated in the open air.
The service was taken by Reverend Iain Allan, with Sandy Sutherland presenting. Rachel Allan accompanied on the organ. It was a sad but deeply moving sight to see John make his final journey from Rhilochan, carried up the brae to the crossroads, preceded by Grant Cumming on pipes and followed by the great procession of mourners, on foot and by car.
Even the calves lined the roadside to watch, appearing as though to pay their last respects.
Considering that John lived his long life on the croft where he was born, he touched the hearts of many far beyond Rhilochan, and will be much missed by family, friends and neighbours.
The day of the funeral was a fitting tribute to a man whose kindness, humility, gentleness and good humour was well recognised by folk of all kinds and many generations.
Rhilochan will never be quite the same again.
The collection raised £440, which was shared between Raigmore and the Lawson Hospitals.
