1925 – 2017

SOUTH PARIS —Marian Lowell Morse, 91, of South Paris died on Friday, Feb 3.

Born in Waterford, on Nov. 20, 1925, the daughter of Wilson and Helen Morse, Marian graduated from a one-room primary school just east of Waterford Flat in 1940, from Bridgton Academy in 1944 and from Gorham State Teachers College in 1948. Marian taught second grade in Bangor, South Portland, Norway and Falmouth from 1949 to 1972.

From 1973 to 1983, Marian took care of her aging parents. She moved to Oxford in 1983 to live with Helene Decker, a teaching colleague. From 1967 until 2010, she spent summers at her cabin, “Largo,” on Keoka Lake pursuing her lifelong passion for wildflowers, birds and the stars and guiding others on frequent nature walks.

Marian joined Waterford Congregational Church at 12 and later taught Sunday school in Waterford and Oxford. She was an active supporter of various peace, justice, civic and environmental organizations.

She is survived by her niece, Dianne Morse-Leonard and her husband Del Leonard and stepchildren, Sarah and Ben; her nephews, George Morse and his wife, Elizabeth and children, Ryan, Pamela and Bradford; Kenneth Morse and his wife, Nikki Millonzi, and stepdaughters, Stephanie and Lissa; Peter Morse and his wife, Jane, and daughter Kelsey; and her nephews, Royal Graves and his wife, JianQun Fu, and Allan Graves and his wife, Patty, and their children, Evan and Meghan. In addition, she had nine great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister, Alice Graves and her husband, Royal; her brother, Frank Morse and his wife, Elaine; her nephew, Frank (Chipper) Morse Jr.; and her lifelong friend, Helene Decker.

Special thanks to Rhonda Whittemore for helping with her care during the past several years.

If you wish to donate In the memory of Marian, please consider the Heifer Project (https://www.heifer.org/) or another cause that helps the less fortunate or protects the environment.

A celebration of life will held this summer at the Waterford Congregational Church.