John Morrison Jr.

John (Jay) Morrison, Jr., resident of Northampton, MA, died unexpectedly at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital on March 2, 2021, at the age of 78.

Jay is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Donna (Hurley) Morrison; his son John Michael Morrison of Belleville, IL; daughter Lisa Morrison of Turners Falls and her partner Gerald Grove; sister Mary Morrison of Northampton and sister Deborah Ramirez, her husband Daniel, and their son Marcus of San Jose, CA. He is predeceased by his father John Morrison, his mother Charlotte (Zuchowski) Morrison, and his brother David Morrison.

Jay was born in Northampton, MA, on October 8, 1942. Jay grew up in Holyoke. He later attended and graduated from South Hadley High School. After high school, Jay attended Holyoke Community College, where he studied business. In his early 20s, Jay enlisted in the US Marine Corps, and he served two tours of duty in Vietnam. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, Jay began working at Pro Brush in Florence, MA, where he met his wife Donna. Over the course of several years, Jay's career in financial services took him and his family to various states, including Ohio, South Dakota, California, Vermont, and New York. Jay and Donna eventually returned home to Northampton upon retirement.

Jay had several passions. His first was soccer. He not only played and coached, but also he worked as a referee for over 40 years. He truly valued the friendships he made in his role as an official. He also enjoyed horseracing. The weekend roadtrips he and his brother David took to the racetrack in Saratoga were among some of his most cherished memories. Jay also had a soft spot for dogs. He routinely sent his adult children heartwarming canine stories and videos. His own dogs Princess, Molly, and Sadie held a special place in his heart. He also had a loving bond with his daughter's dog, Cassie.

Jay will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and loved ones.

Due to covid-19 restrictions, memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Dakin Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101 or to Cooley Dickinson Hospital, PO Box 329, Northampton, MA 01060.