Richard Morehouse

Richard "Dick" Kenyon Morehouse

April 10, 1943 - August 11, 2014

Richard (Dick) Kenyon Morehouse died peacefully Monday, August 11, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rebecca Winship Morehouse, his sons David and Jason, daughter-in-law Jennifer Steele Morehouse, grandchildren Drew and Abigail, his two sisters, Ann Dobbie and Sue Doherty, and several nieces and nephews.
He was born April 10, 1943, to Edward and Charlotte Morehouse in San Mateo, CA.
After several stops up and down the West Coast, Dick graduated from high school in Edmonds, WA. With a fierce sense of independence and self-reliance, coupled with a curious streak, he next sought adventure overseas, traveling throughout Europe before eventually returning to earn his college degree from University of Washington's architecture program in 1967. He next followed his heart and his quest for adventure to Tunisia, where he was a Peace Corps volunteer from 1967-1969. His experience there led him in the direction of city planning and urban design. In 1969, he married Rebecca Winship, also a PC volunteer and world traveler, in Lynnwood, WA. Twin sons Jason and David were born in 1971.
Dick's urban planning career led his family up and down the West Coast: as far south as San Mateo and north to Anchorage, AK with stops in Seattle and Portland, finally settling in Marin County in 1986. He went about his work with passion and integrity, whether it was working on the nation's first urban growth boundary in Portland or exploring sites for a new capital city in Alaska, making lifelong friends along the way, including Steve Reiner, Ed Levine, Mike Rice, and Kate and Dennis Gillespie. Dick was a true renaissance man; throughout his life, his intellectual and inquisitive nature led him down the path of numerous and varied pursuits, from his study of architecture, to honing his tennis game (he was always an athlete), to cultivating gardens, and later in life, finding ways, even with his illness, to enjoy his grandchildren. In his art, whether through photographs or paintings, he often found beauty in things that may seem pedestrian to others. He also displayed a cheeky side; his painting title "The Great Alaska Wolf Throwing Contest" won a prize in a local Anchorage competition.
Several years ago, Dick was diagnosed with atypical Parkinson's known as Lewy Body Dementia. He showed great courage and grace as he lived with this disease, proud to the end, never complaining. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.