Elizabeth "Betty" Morse

Elizabeth "Betty" Slaker Morse, 95, died Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, at The Birches of Concord, where she had been a resident since 2011. Betty was the youngest child of Harrison J. Slaker and Eleanor Kimball Slaker of Scarborough-on-Hudson, N.Y., where she grew up. She attended the Scarborough School, which was the first K-12 Montessori School in the United States. She went on to Smith College where she distinguished herself, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1941, with a major in Geology.

In 1942 she married Mayland H. "Dutch" Morse Jr., from Concord. They were married for 69 years. Shortly after their marriage Dutch enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces. During World War II they lived at various military bases in the southern regions of the United States, where Dutch flew B-25 aircraft and served as a flight instructor for French military recruits who were sent to the United States to learn how to fly.

After the war they returned north and, after Dutch completed law school, they settled in Concord, where Dutch joined his father's law practice. They lived in Concord for over 40 years. During that time Betty and Dutch raised three children. Betty pursued many volunteer service activities: She was a member of the Concord Junior Service League, a member and past president of the Concord Garden Club, and a member and past president of the Concord Flower Mission. She also volunteered for many years at Concord Hospital as the "television lady," providing television service for patients before it was routinely available. Betty and Dutch were active members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Concord.

Once their children had completed college, Betty and Dutch relocated to the Ragged Mountain Fish and Game Club in Andover, where they converted their summer home to their year-round residence. Betty became involved in town activities as a member of the Andover Service Club and the Andover Historical Society. She enjoyed outdoor activities: tennis, swimming, snorkeling, doing yard work, and, in her younger years, skiing.

Betty and Dutch traveled extensively and Betty became an extraordinary chronicler of their trips. For many years they were snow-birds and spent up to four months each winter in Green Valley, Ariz. In 2008 they became residents at Woodcrest Village in New London. In 2011 they moved to The Birches in Concord.

Dutch died in 2011. Betty was kind, generous, patient, tolerant, uncomplaining, and creative. She read to her children at night for years, and talked to her children about books she was reading when they came home from school for lunch, creating a love of learning and reading in all three of her children. There always was room at her table for the unexpected guest. Dutch did lots of the inviting, Betty excelled as the hostess. She always welcomed her children's guests, who often stayed for lengthy visits, sometimes for the entire summer. She was tolerant of her children's interests in the living world, and deep down she had a love for animals, though she often bore the burden of the escaped snakes, hamsters, and salamanders and the left-open ant farm. She raised generations of collies, and always welcomed various grand-dogs who later came into their lives. She tolerated having horses live in her garage for three summers. She was involved in her grandchildren's activities. Uncomplaining of the cold or rain, she attended numerous cross-country and track meets, and drove many miles to hear music recitals.

She went on travel adventures with her grandchildren in the southwest. She found time to pursue several artistic interests, making pierced lampshades, Trapunto style wastebaskets, and painted tiles. She refinished furniture. She knit ski caps for everyone. Betty and Dutch were a gregarious and outgoing couple with many friends. Betty's kind warmth and loyal friendship will be missed.

Betty is survived by her three children, Thomas W. Morse Esq., of Concord, Dr. E. Susan "Sooze" Hodgson of Andover and Christopher H. Morse of Grafton; and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

New Hampshire Cremation Society is in charge of arrangements.

At this time there will be no calling hours or services.

A Celebration of Betty's life will be held during the summer of 2016 up on the mountain she loved so dearly.

The family wishes to thank the caring and thoughtful staff at The Birches who helped her final hours to be a peaceful and loving experience for her and her family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made either to Concord Flower Mission, c/o Morse Law Offices, PO Box 2289, Concord, NH 03302; or the Ragged Mountain Fish & Game Club Endowment Fund, PO Box 1838, New London, NH 03257.