Betty Morse

Betty Anne Hess Morse, 92, of Sarasota, Florida passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday October 7, 2025.

Betty was born in Louisville, Kentucky on March 26, 1933 to Betty Baer and Albert Hess, the youngest of four children. She attended Atherton High School and the University of Michigan. When just 20 years old, she married the love of her life Marvin Henry Morse, and they were constant companions, by each other's side for more than 70 years until his passing in 2024.

Betty and Marvin lived in North Carolina and France while Marvin was in the US Air Force on active duty. They settled in Louisville and began to raise a family, moving to Bethesda Maryland in 1964 and to Longboat Key and then Sarasota, Florida in 2007.

Betty was a homemaker and then a travel agent, which she thoroughly enjoyed, arranging travel for family and friends, and traveling extensively around the world with Marvin for decades.

In Florida, Betty volunteered for more than 20 years at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. She was an active member of Temple Beth Israel in Longboat Key and of Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC.

Betty had a zest for life that was contagious. She held strong opinions and shared them freely and loudly, a fighter through and through right up until the end. Her fierceness of character and loyalty to friends and family served as a role model for her children and grandchildren. She wore the descriptors of "spitfire," "pistol," and "feisty" as badges of honor.

Betty started each day, completing the daily crossword puzzle. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, knitting and sewing, and romance novels. She was the consummate hostess, entertaining extensively. She was an excellent cook and also loved dining out with family and friends.

Betty was predeceased by her devoted husband, Marvin, and her siblings Freddie (Joe) Burstyn, Howard (Sonia) Hess, and Jean (Jacques) Morris. She is survived by her three children and five grandchildren: Martin Morse (Jennifer); Howard Morse (Laura Loeb) and their children Elizabeth (Zane Krakovitz) and Marni (Tal Schwartz); Lee Anne Morse and her children Allison, Matthew and Tyler Luing, as well as loving nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend its sincerest appreciation to Betty's caregivers who were steadfastly by Betty's side for 18 months.

A memorial service will take place Sunday October 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel with an additional service to follow at Washington Hebrew Congregation and burial at Arlington National Cemetery in the coming months.

Donations may be made in Betty's memory to the American Cancer Society, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, Temple Beth Israel or Washington Hebrew Congregation. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danaznsky Goldberg Funeral Care.