Morse, Shirley L.

Shirley L. Morse (Lloyd), 89, of Canton, passed away on December 6 at Milton Hospital.

Born in Somerville, she was raised in Braintree and graduated from Braintree High School. Shirley proudly called Canton home for the last 66 years. Her devotion to the community she loved manifested itself through a seemingly limitless level of civic engagement. Among her many volunteer activities, Shirley served for many years as an election poll worker, was a coordinator for the FISH (Friends in Service for Humanity) program, an assistant for the Senior Tax Credit Work Program, and served as president and treasurer of the Community Club of Canton. She was a member of the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs-Massachusetts and was very active with the Canton Council on Aging, an organization whose mission she was deeply passionate about.

In addition to serving the residents of her community, Shirley was equally committed to the town’s beauty. She co-authored the Scenic Road Act, which helped protect shade trees along designated streets, and grew tree seedlings in her backyard for planting around town. Her tireless work on the Beautification and Streetscape committees and the Signature Brick Program are still visible today in front of Town Hall and the Canton Public Library. Shirley would often say, “Volunteering is truly rewarding for me. Canton is a wonderful town and I love being able to help others.” In 2006 she received the Dr. Richard J. Elkort Citizen of the Year Award from the Blue Hills Civic Association, an organization she was also a longtime member of.

When she wasn’t volunteering, Shirley could be found tending to her plants and garden and she loved watching and identifying the wide array of birds that frequented her many feeders. Shirley was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She cherished her family’s annual summer vacation on Cape Cod because it was the time spent with family, especially her children, that brought her infinite joy.

Shirley was the beloved wife of the late Charles E. Morse. She is survived by daughter Susan Dwyer and her husband, Scott, of Bridgewater, daughter Pam Desruisseaux and her husband, Vic, of Venice, FL, son Chuck Morse and his wife, Diane, of North Attleboro, daughter Debbie Gagne and her husband, Ty, of Hampton, NH, son Tom Morse of Ashland, NH, and by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a grandson, Chris Sullivan, and a son-in-law, Joseph Gearty. She is the sister of the late Robert Lloyd.

Funeral services were private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to The Seeing Eye, Inc. at www.seeingeye.org. For guestbook, see dockrayandthomasfuneralhome.com.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Dec 10 2020. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.