Ardilla Morrissey

Ardilla Freeling Morrissey (Ardie) July 20, 1918 - April 29, 2011 Ardilla Freeling Morrissey (Ardie) peacefully passed away on April 29, 2011. She was born on July 20, 1918 in Union Grove, Wisconsin to Mabel Styles Freeling and Henry Freeling. She grew up with one sibling, Margaret, who was a year older. They remained very close throughout their lives. Her father was a Congregational minister and her mother was a homemaker who also worked in the public schools with children with special needs. As a young woman, Ardie attended Beloit University, later transferring to the State Teachers College of Milwaukee and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. During World War II, Ardie worked for a number of years for the Red Cross and was stationed in veteran's hospitals in New Mexico and Texas. She met her husband, Don, when the newspaper where he was employed as a reporter assigned him to cover a celebration honoring her father at his church. After their marriage, they lived in Madison, where her first son, Stephen, was born. Later they moved to Corsicana, Texas where her son, David, was born. Subsequently, the family moved to Muncie, Indiana and later to Boise, Idaho where the boys grew up and the family lived until Don and Ardie retired. While in Boise, Ardie received a degree in Library Science and began working as a reference librarian for the Idaho State Library, a job which she very much enjoyed. In later years, Don and Ardie moved to be near family, which brought them to Fort Collins. Ardie is preceded in death by her parents, sister, her husband, Don (1995) and her son, David (1996). She is survived by her son, Stephen Morrissey and his wife, Ling-Ling of Portland, Oregon; her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Morrissey of Fort Collins and four grandchildren, Gabriel and Katharine of Fort Collins. Jessica of Los Angeles, Joseph of Paris, France; and a niece, Mary Blackburn of Long Beach, California and her family. Ardie was active in the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. She also enjoyed book clubs. As a young woman, she was an accomplished pianist and organist and throughout her life, she loved music. Her mother's family had early American Quaker roots and this influenced her concern for human rights, especially religious freedom, as well as her appreciation of nature. Ardie was a people person and enjoyed what she called "a good gabfest." Ardie will be remembered for her concern and appreciation for those who helped her, her constant expression of thanks to them and her declaration that their efforts, whether bringing her cookies, flowers, or taking her for a walk, were "loverly." Ardie made our world more "loverly." Donations in her memory may be sent to Defenders of Wildlife. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.