Marie Morse

Marie Morse, 98, of Marion, died June 19 at St. Luke Living Center, Marion.

Marie Jeanette Stover Morse was born June 7, 1915, in Plainfield, N.J., to Stephen Augustus and Mable (Leech) Stover. She spent her childhood in McPherson. The second of four children, she grew up on a farm and carried with her the values of hard work, loyalty, faith, and love that she learned there.

Marie graduated from McPherson High School in 1933. From there she went to McPherson College and then to Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, graduating with a degree in library science.

In a remarkable twist of fate, Marie met her future husband, Roger H. Morse, when they began exchanging letters after she wrote her address on a bunk during a summer camp at Camp Wood. They first met as she was traveling with the McPherson High School band through Marion on the way to the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The romance flourished from a distance, and Roger and Marie were married June 30, 1940.

They lived and worked in Washington, D.C., while Roger finished law school. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served throughout World War II.

After the war, Roger and Marie moved back to his hometown, where he practiced law and Marie contributed to the community she loved.

She was an active member of Marion Presbyterian Church, Literary Guild, Athena Club, DB chapter of PEO, Democratic Women, the American Legion Auxiliary, and St. Luke Auxiliary. Marie ran the library for a lengthy period of time in the 1950’s when no librarian was available. Through her efforts, the library stayed open.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant son, James William, a sister, and a brother.

She is survived by a brother, Stephen Stover of Manhattan; a son, Richard Roger, and wife, Nathela Chatara, of Springfield, Ill.; a daughter, Jean Marie Slater, and husband, Jim, of Guffey, Colo.; and six grandchildren, Heidi Slater; Molly Schuyler and husband, Jason; Jacob Slater and wife, Heather; Nicolas Chatara-Morse and wife, Karolina; and Michel and Eteri Chatara-Morse. Five great-grandchildren will miss “GG”: Jackson and Carson Schuyler, Mathias and Ketivan Chatara-Morse, and Abigail Slater. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. today at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Marion Presbyterian Church.

Interment will be in Marion Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be given to Marion Presbyterian Church or Marion Public Library.