Obituaries

It is with overwhelming sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful Mom, Mary Lou (MacLean) Morrison, January 6, 2019. We were with her holding her close when she left us, loving her as we loved her every day of our lives. She was the youngest of four children & was given the nickname “Babes” by her brother Frank, a loving name that is still used by her nieces. She loved her home on Old Kings Road & loved to play in the playhouse built by her carpenter Dad, MF MacLean. It was at this time, she became best friends with her neighbour, Mona, a friendship that spanned a lifetime. Her teenage years were shared with her best friends, Norma, Margaret, Ada & Isabel. She loved skating at the Sydney Forum, being a varsity athlete at Sydney Academy, trips with her parents, fishing with her Dad, & telling stories of all her beaus! Her best career moments were spent at CBC Sydney. She would tell us of walking to work in spike heels & dirndl skirts & then meeting her friends at the Diana Sweets. In 1958, she fell in love with her soul mate, Francis Morrison. After a whirlwind romance, they married & lived happily for over 50 years. She was the best Mom, she was our protector. She held our hands, she comforted us when we were ill, she whistled us tunes, she read to us to erase our fears, she held us close when life let us down & she celebrated our every accomplishment. She sewed our Halloween & dance costumes, she made us Barbie clothes, she created the Chair gift so we had one more surprise on Christmas Day! She & Dad were at every event we participated in, dedicated to making our lives full! Her greatest memories were our summer vacations, visiting family in Boston & New York, & adventures at Santa’s Village, Storyland & Disney World. We had special getaways to Lake Ainslie & Marble Mountain & spent many a summer day at our backyard pool. Mom & Dad travelled to Jamaica & fell in love with that destination. In recent years, Mom enjoyed trips with her kids & grandkids; Toronto to see Samantha, Petite Rivière to Suzie’s cottage, Connecticut for the Morrison Family Reunion & many fun-filled day trips. Many didn’t know but music was a big part of her life. She took vocal lessons & often would tell us about performing, My Alice Blue Gown at the Music Festival. She took piano lessons but got more enjoyment playing by ear. Later in life, she also took guitar lessons & ukulele with us. Guiding was a special part of her life. She was a Girl Guide Commissioner & leader for several years where she made special friendships with Jean, Peggy, Sandy and Louise. Later Mom returned to work at Sears & made lasting friends with her Sears girlfriends! These friendships remained strong, so much so she facetimed them from her hospital room at their annual Christmas party this year. The highlight of her life was becoming “Nanny”, the best grandmother to her grandchildren, Samantha, Nash, Hogan, Redford & North. She spoiled them & made their visits to Nanny’s, the “Morrison” ranch extra special. She wrote special Children’s stories for them & created the “Cherry Hill” Golf Tournament with trophies and all! She hosted them every Christmas & she baked the best Christmas pies. She danced with them at parties, went to every sporting event she could & was the coolest Nanny ever! She always told them, whenever you need me, I’ll be in your little finger. After Dad passed, she continued to live in the Morrison homestead, maintaining the beautiful property. She drove her red Focus everywhere, dined out with friends & often with her nephew, Bruce & his wife Georgie. She made a special bond with her neighbours, the Sampson’s, the Lewis’s & the Thomas’s. Our Mom was beautiful! We would watch her carefully put on her makeup and we definitely inherited her makeup face. She loved to dress up and she loved pink! She is survived by her daughters, Andree & Suzanne; sons-in-law, John Gracie, James Ingram; grandchildren, Samantha, Nash, Hogan, Redford & North; her sister-in-law, Isabel MacLean; her nephews & nieces. Special thanks are extended to her niece, Franklyn & grandniece, Taylor who travelled from Connecticut to visit her while in hospital. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Francis & her brothers, Frank (Muriel) & Jack MacLean; her sister, Thelma Hubley (Raymond); nephew, Brian Hubley; sister-in-law, Isabel Mancini & brother-in-law, Duncan Morrison. She was the daughter of Murdock & Annie MacLean of Old Kings Road, Sydney. Our deepest thank you to all who visited Mom in her final days and the extraordinary nursing staff on 5A at the Victoria General Hospital. The Memorial Service will take place at Sydney River United Protestant Church on Saturday, February 23rd at 2 p.m. Reception to follow. We ask that you celebrate Mom by wearing pink that day. We will have a Celebration of Life in Halifax on February 21st 7pm at Suzanne’s home. Online condolences www.donaldkwalker.ca.