John Morrissey Jr.

Mr. John Thomas Morrissey Jr., 72, of 11941 South St., Libertytown, died Friday, March 7, at Frederick Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

He was the husband of Sophia Vitek Morrissey, his wife of 39 years.

Born March 23, 1930, in Libertytown, he was a son of the late John T. Sr. and Helen Louise Sappington Morrissey.

Mr. Morrissey served in the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of captain. He served duty twice in the Korean war and at various bases in the United States. He was in charge of the Marine Security Guards at the consulate in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, for one year and at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo for one year. He was then assigned to Quantico Marine Base in Virginia, attended recruiting school and was sent on recruiting duty in Pueblo, Colo. He was then assigned to Marine headquarters in Arlington, Va.; spent a tour of duty in Vietnam and returned to Marine headquarters, retiring in 1981.

He then accepted a civilian job at headquarters and retired from civil service in 1987. He was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Marine Corps for almost 35 years of service to the U.S. government.

He was a member of American Legion Post 11, Frederick; the Carolina/Virginia Pheasant and Waterfowl Society; and the Military Officers of America.

He and his wife enjoyed raising exotic birds for a number of years in their business, J&S Exotic Birds.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Janet Lorene Morrissey of Libertytown, and Jean Marie Cox and husband Randy, Davidsonville; three grandchildren, Christopher Stauffer, Liam Cox and Erin Cox; four sisters, Louise Tregoning and Margaret Myers, both of Libertytown, Rosie Smith of Frederick, and Jeanette Moran of Las Cruces, N.M.; and two brothers, Francis J. Morrissey of Taneytown and Richard L. Morrissey of Libertytown.

Mr. Morrissey was preceded in death by two sisters, Geraldine Welsh and Catherine Eyler; and a brother, Matthew W. Morrissey.

The family will receive friends 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Hartzler Funeral Home, 11802 Liberty Road, Libertytown, where Christian wake services will be held at 8:45 p.m.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Libertytown, with the Rev. John Dietzenbach as celebrant.

Military interment services will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Frederick County, P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, Md. 21702.