Sun, The (Baltimore, MD)
September 20, 2015
Shirley Morris
Shirley (May) Morris, world traveler, accomplished pianist, volunteer extraordinaire and homecoming queen passed away on August 10, 2015. She was 77 years old.
Shirley was born on June 4, 1938 in Sterling, Colorado to the late Boyd T. May and Carol (Bear) May. Her father worked for the railroad and they moved several times before settling in Eastlake, Colorado. She took piano lessons for 12 years and became the Assistant Organist for the First Congregational Church of Eastlake. She attended Brighton High School where she was elected the 1956 homecoming queen. Brighton High was also where she met her future husband, Don.
After dating for a couple of years, these high school sweethearts eloped during their senior year. 2015 saw them celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary. They moved to Iowa in 1964 where she worked as an Executive Assistant. In 1968 they learned that her husband was blind and this began her long term involvement with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). Shirley worked as a tireless volunteer for the NFB, and served as the Convention Registrar for 30+ years..
n 1976 the family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland. Shirley continued working in the banking industry and volunteering for the NFB. She also adopted Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) as a major volunteer commitment. She especially liked BISM's programs for senior blind people and blind children.
They moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1984 when her husband opened his own business. At this point she joined him in running his company - O'Leary's Emporium. For her 50th birthday, Shirley and Don took their first trip outside of the United States. They traveled to England, Ireland and Scotland. This is when they were "bit" by the travel bug. Over the next 24 years they visited 47 countries on 6 continents. She was particularly fond of their trips to Asia and Australia and cruising the Amazon River. In 2012 they bought a house in Oviedo, Florida and have split their time between Florida and Maryland for the last few years.
Shirley was the epitome of class, elegance and beauty. The person that you liked the minute you met her. She was kind, thoughtful and gracious and was beloved by family and friends alike. Her radiant smile is remembered by all who shared it.
Shirley is survived by her husband Donald Morris, her brother and sister-in-law Donald and Marva Lea May of Grand Junction, Colorado, her son Kirk Morris and his wife Cheryl of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, daughters Kristine Kraus and her husband Mike of Oviedo, Florida and Kathi Efland and her husband Steve of Winter Springs, Florida. Also her 8 grandchildren - Sarah Morris (Pete McDaniel), Emily Wantz (Eric), Chelsea Sermeno (Nick), Matthew Kraus, Allison Mihalich (Neil), Ashley Kraus (Dustin Whitlow), Hayley Efland, and Tyler Kraus. She is also survived by her very precious great grand-daughter Madison Wantz, numerous nieces and nephews and countless other friends and loved ones.
There will be a Celebration of Shirley's life on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 11:00am at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, 3345 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21227. Although Shirley planted flowers every place she lived, she would prefer memorials to be made either to BISM (at the above address) earmarked for the Kids' Camp Program or the Seniors Program, or to the National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230.
Paid death notice. View and sign our online guestbook at Baltimoresun.com/obituaries.
Shirley (May) Morris, world traveler, accomplished pianist, volunteer extraordinaire and homecoming queen passed away on August 10, 2015. She was 77 years old.
Shirley was born on June 4, 1938 in Sterling, Colorado to the late Boyd T. May and Carol (Bear) May. Her father worked for the railroad and they moved several times before settling in Eastlake, Colorado. She took piano lessons for 12 years and became the Assistant Organist for the First Congregational Church of Eastlake. She attended Brighton High School where she was elected the 1956 homecoming queen. Brighton High was also where she met her future husband, Don.
After dating for a couple of years, these high school sweethearts eloped during their senior year. 2015 saw them celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary. They moved to Iowa in 1964 where she worked as an Executive Assistant. In 1968 they learned that her husband was blind and this began her long term involvement with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). Shirley worked as a tireless volunteer for the NFB, and served as the Convention Registrar for 30+ years..
n 1976 the family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland. Shirley continued working in the banking industry and volunteering for the NFB. She also adopted Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) as a major volunteer commitment. She especially liked BISM's programs for senior blind people and blind children.
They moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1984 when her husband opened his own business. At this point she joined him in running his company - O'Leary's Emporium. For her 50th birthday, Shirley and Don took their first trip outside of the United States. They traveled to England, Ireland and Scotland. This is when they were "bit" by the travel bug. Over the next 24 years they visited 47 countries on 6 continents. She was particularly fond of their trips to Asia and Australia and cruising the Amazon River. In 2012 they bought a house in Oviedo, Florida and have split their time between Florida and Maryland for the last few years.
Shirley was the epitome of class, elegance and beauty. The person that you liked the minute you met her. She was kind, thoughtful and gracious and was beloved by family and friends alike. Her radiant smile is remembered by all who shared it.
Shirley is survived by her husband Donald Morris, her brother and sister-in-law Donald and Marva Lea May of Grand Junction, Colorado, her son Kirk Morris and his wife Cheryl of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, daughters Kristine Kraus and her husband Mike of Oviedo, Florida and Kathi Efland and her husband Steve of Winter Springs, Florida. Also her 8 grandchildren - Sarah Morris (Pete McDaniel), Emily Wantz (Eric), Chelsea Sermeno (Nick), Matthew Kraus, Allison Mihalich (Neil), Ashley Kraus (Dustin Whitlow), Hayley Efland, and Tyler Kraus. She is also survived by her very precious great grand-daughter Madison Wantz, numerous nieces and nephews and countless other friends and loved ones.
There will be a Celebration of Shirley's life on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 11:00am at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, 3345 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21227. Although Shirley planted flowers every place she lived, she would prefer memorials to be made either to BISM (at the above address) earmarked for the Kids' Camp Program or the Seniors Program, or to the National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230.
Paid death notice. View and sign our online guestbook at Baltimoresun.com/obituaries.
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