Barbara Bradlyn Morris

1932 - 2025

Author
Born New York City, NY, April 21 1932 and died February 23, 2025. Graduated from Classical High School, Springfield, MA, 1949, sophomore and junior years at Valparaiso University in Indiana; graduated from Syracuse University in 1953 with BA in English. Six years in Public Relations in NYC, NY representing Pepsi-Cola, Schweppes, Waterman Pens and Dolly Madison ice cream. (Dolley, the president's wife had an 'e' in her name; the ice cream does not.) then six years as Naval Officer, serving in Key West, Florida, Hawaii and Washington, DC. One of her best duties was to represent Key West Naval Air Station in the All-Navy tennis tournament in Newport, Rhode Island. She was defeated in the first round, but it was a great duty. In 1964 she married Navy Officer Ward Morris who she met when they both served at the Naval Communication Station in the middle of the pineapple fields on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. She left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant and accompanied her husband to duty stations in Germany, Hawaii and Japan where they lived for six years. After 56 years of marriage and travel to more than 100 countries, Ward, a retired Navy Captain, died on January 1, 2021. Barbara's book, The Sacred Ball Game, dedicated to Ward, was published the week he died. Barbar's fifth book, Cora the Cat: On Loan from God, was published in August, 2023.

Freelance writer of humorous and nostalgic essays, plus travel pieces for national newspapers and magazines, including Washington Post, Bon Appetit, House Beautiful, Los Angeles Times, Maryland Magazine, Catalina Magazine. She is especially pleased to have about 50 Letters to the Editor published in The Washington Post. She was the author of five books: The Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts: An Insider's Guide to Washington's Liveliest Memorial; Crazy For Cats: A Purrfect Love Story; The Fattest Baby In The Bronx: Snack-Size Stories from a Writing Woman's Life and The Sacred Ball Game., a Young Adult adventure book set in ancient Chichen Itza, Mexico. At age 91 she published her fifth book, Cora, My Rescue Cat; on Loan From God.

Volunteer tour guide at Kennedy Center for 10 years. Active parishioner at Grace Episcopal Church, Russell Road, Alexandria, VA. Meals on Wheels, usher, lector, St. Martha's Guild, Homeless Shelter program, Brown Bag Lunch program, seminarian lay committees. Animal shelter volunteer, supporter of National Resource Defense Counsel, Earth Justice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Wolf Trap Opera, Kennedy Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Plan International, member of Silver Panthers devoted to peacefully advocate for government policies and legislation that support the wellbeing of democratic institutions and environment. She was particularly proud of participating in the Women's March of 2017. "At age 82, I was on my feet for 11 solid hours."

In 2010 the Morrises moved to Goodwin House retirement community in Falls Church, Viginia where Barbara took up abstract watercolor painting and was pleased to sell several of her works. She donated her favorite, titled In The Beginning to her church. Capt. Morris died in 2021.

There will be a memorial for Mrs. Morris at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads on April 22, 2025 at 2 p.m. with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers Barbara requests a donation in hers and Ward's memory to Grace Church, Save the Children, St. Jude's Hospital, The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), or Hope for PAWS.