Evan S. Morse

BELFAST - Evan Samuel Morse, 31, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, surrounded by his family at a Bangor hospital. Evan was born July 6, 1979, in Belfast, to Lester S. Morse and Mary J. (Staples) Morse. Evan grew up in Belfast and graduated from Belfast Area High School in 1997. He was a fun-loving, adventuresome boy, who brought great joy to his family and friends, but gave us all a "run for our money." On Oct. 14, 2002, he married Kimberlee Courant on Frye Mountain, Waldo. They lived in Portland and Rockport before moving to Islesboro, where Evan worked as a caretaker. The outdoors was a big part of Evan's life. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, photography, playing the guitar, foraging for edible mushrooms, walking and camping with his family. If he wanted to learn about something, he researched it tirelessly until he was confident about it, as was evidenced in his mushroom hunting and cooking prowess. It was not a daunting task for him to take days to prepare the perfect gumbo. One friend describes him as a very colorful character, as he'd never before seen anyone face down a bear by running at it while pounding on a guitar. Evan is survived by his wife, Kimberlee (Courant) Morse and their daughter, Aisling Morse, of Islesboro; his parents, Mary Gilman and her husband, Darrell, of Belfast and Lester S. Morse of Belmont; a dear grandmother, Maravene Gilman of Skowhegan; brothers, Cory Morse and wife, Jill, of Belfast and Ryan Morse of Vassalboro; aunts and uncles, Michael Staples of Winterport, Harold and Judith Morse, Norman Morse and Bertha Hardison, all of Maine and Florida, and James and Darlene Morse of Swanville; and many cousins. Evan will also be missed by mother-in-law, Sandra Rogers and her husband, Skip, of Northport; father-in-law, Todd Courant and his wife, Fran Vitolo, of Topsham; Kim's grandmother, Jane Snyder of Belfast; sisters-in-law, Kathryn Woodrow and husband, Adam, of Hampden and Rachael Courant of Islesboro; brothers-in-law, Nick and Tom Courant of Topsham; nephews, Skyler and Joseph Morse and Gabriel Woodrow; and nieces, Bellamy Morse, Arden and Joelle Woodrow. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at Grove Cemetery, Belfast, with a reception after at the Gilman residence, 12 Alto St., Belfast. If desired, memorial gifts may be made to the educational fund for Aisling Morse, care of Key Bank, 111 Main St., Belfast, ME 04915. Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden.