Thomas M. Morris

1956 - 2018

Thomas M. Morris, 61, of Jamaica, Vermont died on February 18, 2018, from an acute illness.

He is survived by his dog Jackson, his sweetie Nancy Jean Henry, and his three brothers, Francis K. Morris and wife Ellen Howard of Brookline, Mass.; Donald C. Morris and his wife Betsy, and Stephen D. Morris and his wife Nancy, all of Southborough, Mass. He also leaves a niece Meghan Morris, and nephews Robert Howard, Chuck, Sean and Matthew Morris.

Tom's life centered around Nancy Jean, the love of his life for 27 years, and The Bondville Boys, a local bluegrass band in which he joyously played banjo and guitar, and wrote songs, with dear friends, for almost 30 years. Tom played a lot of hockey in Manchester, and refereed thousands of games including a benefit game with his home team, the Boston Bruins. He also loved the Red Sox, his garden, stacking wood, and the house he and Nancy Jean made into a loving home over the years.

Tom was born in Southboro, Mass. in 1956, the son of the late Donald C. Morris and Stephanie A. (Kret) Morris. He graduated from Algonquin Regional High School and attended UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture with a degree in Turf Management. Tom worked as a greenskeeper in Massachusetts and Vermont for 35 years after which he and Nancy Jean established their own property services business in 2004.

When younger, Tom was heavily involved in sports and he continued to live a very active athletic life, with hockey as well as running and bicycling. In Jamaica, Tom was often seen running or biking up and down the local roads he loved, or in the center of town, banjo around his chest, bedecked in his beloved shorts, Hawaiian shirts and workboots, with a big grin and a sweet wave to all. Tom's life was spent trying to make the world a better place. He volunteered whenever he could, stepped up to help people and loved to pay it forward. He loved Jamaica and Jamaica loved him back and the town is dimmer without his glow, his music, and his sweet gentle ways.

A memorial mass was held in Southborough, MA. There will be a gathering to celebrate Tom's life in the spring/summer, at a date to be announced.

Donations to the Jamaica Food Pantry please (PO Box 179 Jamaica VT 05343).