"Jon and I send our deepest condolences. We were blessed to have known both Sandy and Ted in so many ways. May Their Memory Be Eternal. Jon & Mariann Barnard"
In loving memory of
Sandra Morrison
October 18, 1935 - January 10, 2021
Sandra Kelley Morrison was born October 18, 1935 in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Benjamin Roberts and Gladys Wilson Kelley. Sandy grew up in Marengo, IL.
Sandy remembered fondly a fun and carefree youth, full of extended family who gathered together every Sunday and holiday. And neighborhood kids often gravitated to the Kelley house for kick-the-can, ice skating on a backyard pond, or visiting the horses her father cared for in their barn.
Sandy attended Monmouth College where she focused on becoming an educator. At Monmouth, she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. She also waitressed in the student cafeteria and tutored Spanish. As a result, she met the young man who would become her husband; for Ted Morrison loved ice box cookies and he (desperately) required help to pass his Spanish class! She and Ted married in her parents' home on July 5, 1958.
Upon graduation, Sandy began a life-long career dedicated to teaching, enlivening classrooms in Franklin School, Ellington School (which was conveniently next door to Moorman Mfg., where Ted worked), Baldwin School, and Madison School. Even during the 10 years she stepped away from fulltime work to raise her two children, Ben and Susan, Sandy served as a QPS substitute and tutor for home-bound children. And for many years after her retirement, Sandy tutored students at the schools and at her home. Teaching was in her blood; nothing pleased her more than connecting with her students, many of whom would stop her in the street with a smile years later to say, "You're Mrs. Morrison! Thank you for being such a great teacher!"
And Sandy extended the warmth of her Marengo home to the beloved Morrison home on Maine Street. She relished having neighborhood kids, and later, grandchildren and great nieces and nephews and their friends, in and out of the house. She presided over countless scavenger hunts, dominoes tournaments, Harry Potter dinner parties, and messy experiments in the kitchen or on the front porch.
One of her favorite words was "festive," and in that spirit, she delighted in organizing "annuals" to gather friends and family for camaraderie, fun, warmth, and love: Christmas tree-ing in Paloma, the Palm Sunday brunch, the Christmas Sing, the Unitarian Church's First Friday get-togethers, the Dogwood Parade gatherings, and on and on. She frequently put together her famous chicken broccoli casserole to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, graduations, and all the "little" things in between.
Another word friends and family associate with Sandy is "busy." She rarely napped and was always doing something, through which she developed or deepened many life-long friendships. She became an avid golfer, served in numerous volunteer roles in the community, served the Quincy Unitarian Church in every capacity possible, and enjoyed travelling with her family, her extended family, and with her dear friend Marge.
With Ted, she enthusiastically supported QHS sports and arts, attending QHS basketball games, concerts, and theater productions, as well as concerts and theater productions in the Quincy Arts community. In her quiet time, she sewed dresses for her daughter, granddaughters, and great nieces, knit countless sweaters, stitched dozens of baby blankets, and baked cookies and loaves of cinnamon bread for generations of Quincyans.
In essence, Sandy's life was full of love that she happily shared with anyone who was lucky enough to come into her orbit.
Sandy was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Ted Morrison, her parents, Ben and Gladys Kelley, and her brothers Horace Abner "Orph" Kelley and Benjamin Roberts Kelley.
Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Ty Frank of Gallatin, TN, son and daughter-in-law Benjamin and Evelyn Morrison of Quincy, her daughter and son-in-law Susan Morrison Hebble and Jeff Hebble of Western Springs, IL, her grandchildren, Anna Hebble of Portland, OR, Jane Morrison of Chicago, IL, Ben Morrison of San Francisco, CA, and Sophie Hebble, of Chicago, IL.
A small family service celebrating the lives of Sandy & Ted will be streamed on Saturday, January 1,6 2021 at 11:00 am Central Time. Please join us using the following link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/8007580
A recording of the service will be available online for 90 days using the live stream link.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorials to the Quincy Unitarian Church and the QPS Foundation's Paul and Frances Morrison Music Fund. Memorial donations may be made online at https://memorials.hansenspear.com/
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.
Tributes
"Some of my happiest high school memories were held at the Morrisons. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison we?re always filled with fun, laughter and love."
"I had Mrs. Morrison for 4th grade at Madison during the 1991-92 school year. She has been one of the greatest influences of my life. We had been pen pals for many, many years and I was thrilled to see her and Mr. M in Ames for breakfast ~10 years ago. I adored her very much and will remember her forever. "
"Aunt Sandy nurtured community all her life! Family came first, and next, all together, were her neighbors and friends and colleagues and her Unitarian fellowship. When I was in high school and walked from 18th & Hampshire out to 30th & Maine, I often stopped in for a quick bowl of Cheerios to further fuel my day. Aunt Sandy was usually getting ready for her day?s teaching and always welcomed my appetite! Her home never knew a stranger and often the smell of her baking greeted visitors. She was my only Aunt but she was the *best* in the world! I will miss her smile, common sense and care."
"I had Mrs. Morrison for 4th grade at Madison during the 1991-92 school year. She has been one of the greatest influences of my life. We had been pen pals for many, many years and I was thrilled to see her and Mr. M in Ames for breakfast ~10 years ago. I adored her very much and will remember her forever. "
"Mrs Morrison - you always had such a warm heart and you had a gift of always making everyone feel welcome. Your home was open, loving and like a second home to me. Love you - Anne McClain"
"It has taken me some days to think about what I can write and still I am blank. Sandy was so much more to me than words can ever express. She was part of me...part of my life...part of my memories. She taught me so much in so many ways but one important thing she taught me was to enjoy the life you have. She always did. I loved Sandy. She was a part of me. I will forever try to be like my role model, my friend Sandy. Love you Susan and Ben. Molly Stroot ??????"
"To The Family of Ted (Bup) and Sandy Morrison, My condolences on the loss of your beloved Bup and Sandy. I will hold you in my heart. "