Gordon Eugene "Doc" Morrison

MORRISON, Gordon Eugene ''Doc''

Gordon "Doc" Morrison passed away Saturday, June 21, 2008 in Scotch Plains, NJ following a yearlong battle with cancer. Doc was born July 16, 1927 in Sacramento, CA to longtime Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner Alfred E. Morrison and Christine Abbott. He graduated from C. K. McClatchy High School in 1945. Following high school he entered the Navy and served in 1945 and 1946 during World War II and was honorably discharged. After the war, he attended Sacramento College before transferring to the University of California at Berkley (UC), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1951. Upon graduation he married Sally Depew (deceased), daughter of longtime Sacramento Bee Executive Editor Myron V. Depew and Maybelle Lincoln. He went on to receive his Doctorate in Computer Science from UC in 1958. While at UC he worked on a select team as a research assistant to create CALDIC, one of the world's first computers. Doc was member of the Sigma Phi fraternity. Doc joined Marchant (which later merged with Smith Corona to form SCM) in 1958 where he served as an executive in several divisions before being transferred to Phoenixville, PA in 1967. He served as General Manager of the SCM paper plant until his retirement in 1983. During his tenure at SCM, Doc was active in the local business community serving as president of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Doc was an avid seaman spending much of his free time on the Chesapeake Bay and was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He also served as an instructor with the U.S. Power Squadron. He is survived by his three children, James Morrison of Monroe, CT; Sandra Rees of Port Orange, FL; and Robert Morrison of Warren, NJ; and four grandchildren, Heather, Colin, Natalie and Andrew. He is also survived by his separated spouse, Marilyn Morrison of Hamburg, PA and her two adult children and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Doc's memory be sent to the Center for Hope, Hospice and Palliative Care, 1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 or call 908-889-7780 to make a donation by phone. The family is very grateful to the Center for the comforting care they provided.