John Morrison

JOHN WASHBURN MORRISON John Washburn Morrison, age 89, passed away peacefully at his home in Vero Beach, FL, on April 2 after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. Born June 1, 1922, John grew up in Minneapolis and Wayzata, MN. He attended Blake School, graduated from The Hotchkiss School and then entered Yale with the Class of 1944. At Yale, he played soccer, was a member of Book and Snake, and sang as a Whiffenpoof. During his junior year he left Yale to enlist in the Army Air Corps. He served as a flight trainer and eventually shipped out to Burma, where as a Captain he flew C-46's over the "Hump", the supply route from Burma to China. At the end of the war he returned to Yale and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1946. He then earned an MBA as a Baker Scholar at Harvard Business School. In 1984 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Carroll College in Montana. He married Charlotte (Chy) Lewis in 1942, and they remained, as he would say, happily together since the age of 14. Together they built a family and his career. John began his career in 1950 at Honeywell in Minneapolis. Over the years they lived in Pennsylvania and California, as well as Minnesota, while enjoying a shared passion for world travel. After 28 years he retired from Honeywell as Chief Financial Officer to become Chairman and CEO of Northwestern National Bank and later served as Chairman and CEO of Norwest Corporation (now part of Wells Fargo). During that time he served on the boards of General Mills, PPG, Northwestern National Life Insurance Co. and Macalester College. He retired from Norwest in 1985 and in the following year he lost Chy prematurely to cancer. In 1988 he met and married the second love of his life, Jane Hayes in his second home, Vero Beach. They enjoyed a happy post-retirement life at John's Island and Oak Harbor, with extensive travel in the company of many friends. He was a member of the Minneapolis Club, Woodhill Country Club (past president), John's Island Club, Bent Tree, Riomar, and The Honors Course. John was a true renaissance man. He loved the symphony, musicals and writing and singing new lyrics to familiar songs. He was an enthusiastic sportsman-a single digit handicap golfer for most of his life (who enjoyed many tournaments with the U.S. Seniors), a fanatic skier who especially enjoyed powder in the Canadian Rockies and a good (he would claim crack) shot from the duck blind. Treasured memories include getting his heli-skiing Million Foot Suit from Canadian Mountain Holidays, a feat witnessed by his grandchildren, his double eagle on the 3rd hole at Woodhill and a hole in one at Augusta. John applied his prodigious intellect in all pursuits. He read widely. He was an avid bridge player. His dedication to lifelong learning was exemplified by his mastery of computers in retirement. He contributed generously to his communities and served on numerous non-profit boards. John lived a full life. He will be greatly missed by his many friends, and "Papa" will be especially missed by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents Angus and Helen Morrison and his sister Anne Morrison Snyder. Also preceded by his first wife Charlotte, he is survived by their children Jack (Chris) and Helen; his grandchildren Kelly (John Willoughby) and Jeb (Kitsy); his great grandchildren, Kyra, Kate and Rhys Willoughby and Campbell, Charlotte and Ellie Morrison. Preceded in death in 2009 by his wife Jane, he is survived also by her children, Carole Williams (Richard), Sharon Morgan, and Marilyn Hayes; her grandchildren Hayes Batten, Cyia Batten (Tim McElwee), and Jennifer Hatfield (David); and her great grandchildren Quinn Batten, Jane, Mac and Kate Hatfield and Atticus McElwee. He is survived also by his brothers, Clinton and Angus, and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their gratitude to the entire team from Home Instead Senior Care, VNA Hospice Indian River County, and Nurses Touch Network for their gentle kindness. Special thanks to Lil Langfelder, for her tender loving care of both John and Jane in the last years of their lives. A memorial gathering will take place at noon at Oak Harbor Clubhouse, Vero Beach, on April 6, 2012. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to VNA Hospice of Indian River County, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or The Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963. An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com Paid Obituary