Laura Ann (Knightly) Morse

NORWAY – Laura Ann (Knightly) Morse, 86, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, at home with her loving family by her side. She was born on March 18, 1938, in Otisfield, the youngest daughter of the late Lewis Knightly and Ruth (Johnson) Knightly Lacko.

She met the love of her life Ronald A. Morse at Norway High School in Algebra class. After high school, Laura went on to Nasson College, and pursued a career as a Medical Technologist, working in hospital laboratories in Hematology and the Blood Bank. Laura and Ronald married on December 20,1958 at the Second Congregational Church in Norway, Maine.

Laura and Ronald moved to Torrington, Connecticut in 1961 with their first child. There they had three more children. Laura was a loving Mom to her four children, and she shared her greatest gifts with them while encouraging them to follow their hearts, work hard and always be kind. She drove a Kindergarten car pool, was a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother, Sunday School teacher, cheered her children on at countless sports, dance recitals and drama productions. As a family we camped and created countless memories while in a StarCraft Pop-up camper. She forever put her family first. After retirement, Laura and Ron returned to Norway, winterizing the camp on Norway Lake and making it a home.

Laura continued to live her life with grace, dignity, and her often unexpected “one liner comments” in her final years. We are comforted knowing she is reunited with her countless memories of family that welcomed her home and the family she leaves behind to carry on her legacy of love for generations to come.

She was predeceased by her loving parents, Lewis Knightly and Ruth Knightly-Lacko, and her sister Betty Roubal.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 67 years Ronald Morse, her devoted children Natalie Donais and her husband Richard, Jay Morse and his wife MaryAnn, Frank Morse and his wife Maria, and Todd Morse and his wife Michelle. She also leaves her 11 grandchildren, Zachary, Luke, and Kayla Donais, Nicole, Jason and Jayme Morse, Emma, Lillian and Madelyn Morse and Andrew and Ashlynn Morse and three great-grandchildren, Laurel, Kes and Celia. She also leaves a sister Hilda Rice.

In following Laura’s wishes a graveside service and Celebration of Life will take place at the Norway Pine Grove Cemetery in South Paris on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 11 a.m. followed by a time to gather with family and friends at the Heywood Club in Norway.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. To make an online condolence please visit http://www.chandlerfunerals.com