Susanne S. Morris

1931 - 2016

Susanne S. (Sue) Morris

Salisbury-Susanne S. (Sue) Morris, wife, mother, Grammy, friend, sports enthusiast, religious, and civic leader. As a member of the Salisbury community for 63 years she quietly and graciously impacted the lives of so many people. She was a woman of vision, honesty, truth, sensitivity, good will, and grace.

Born in the Foxhall Village neighborhood of Washington, DC in 1931, she attended the University of Maryland where she met Francis H. Morris. They married in 1953 and moved to the Eastern Shore where she's worked hard to make this community her home. Frank predeceases Sue in 1993.

Some people remember Sue Morris as an active volunteer serving as a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, and as a water safety instructor with the Lower Shore Chapter of the Red Cross. For fifteen years, she taught drown proofing to the area's 4th-6th grade students. She also made meals and served in the soup kitchen at Joseph House Village, and chaired the Delmarva Chicken Festival.

In addition to the active role she played helping people in our community, she provided leadership to many organizations. At the United Way, she served on the Allocations Committee, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. In addition to teaching drown proofing, she also served on the Board of Directors, Disaster Services Team, and the Capital Campaign Committee at the Red Cross.

At the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, she was on the Board of directors for twelve years acting as Treasurer of the Board for many years. She chaired the Membership and Community Initiative Committees and served on the Community Relations, Frank Morris Award, Grants, and Perdue-Kresge Selection Committees.

Sue served so many local and regional and National organizations, it would be difficult to list them all here. She was on the board at First Shore Federal Savings & Loan, MAC Incorporated, and Kids of Honor. Additionally, she served on the Local Advisory board for The Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. She was past President of the Junior Women's Club, a Wicomico Airport Commissioner, President of the National Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Wholesalers Women's Group (HALO).

When not serving as a business and civic leader, Sue devoted much of her time to her church, St. Francis de Sales. She worked in the thrift shop, served on the school board, chaired the Parish Council, worked tirelessly on an Advisory Board seeking a Catholic High School, and dedicated many hours as an Eucharistic minister, serving during Masses and taking communion to homebound parishioners.

Always making time to celebrate with family and friends, throughout her life, Sue coordinated parties with her Pi Phi sorority sisters, organized gatherings at church with her guild, and played many hands of bridge. Birthdays were family gatherings for her children and their spouses, Susan & Eric Josephson, James & Paula, David & Caryn, and Richard & Anne Morris. Whether in Salisbury or Reno, she attempted to be at the birthday parties of all 11 grandchildren: Johanna & Daniel Josephson; Taylor, Anakin & Marcella; Andrew, Rebekah & Matthew; Emily, Claire & Christopher Morris.

Sue kept her mind sharp by reading constantly. Her day usually started with the sports section of the Baltimore Sun and concluded with an Orioles game or a book that was soon to be recommended to the rest of the family. She also kept active swimming and working out at the Y. Sue holds a Silver and a Bronze medal in swimming from the Maryland Senior Olympic Games. Other times you'd find Sue gardening or traveling with grandchildren; frequently returning to her favorite happy place in "Grammy's Mountains" or the Grand Teton National Park.

Sports were her pastime and passion. She loved nothing more than going to Maryland Terps basketball game with family and friends or watching the Orioles on TV while texting with her children and grandchildren about highlights from the game.

We celebrate the life of Sue Morris at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church on Friday, June 24th at 11am. You may visit with Sue's family an hour before the service at the church (10am). In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions be made to the Frank & Sue Morris Family Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, 1324 Belmont Ave, Suite 401, Salisbury, MD 21804.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Rd., Salisbury, MD 21804. Please visit www.hollowayfh.com to send condolences to the family.