Doris Rosalie Morrison

Doris Rosalie Morrison, 92, of Rapid City, MI, passed away December 24, 2024 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. Dorrie was born on February 27, 1932 in Bellaire, MI to the late Ray and Lena (Turk) Harrington. Dorrie was raised on a farm with 11 other siblings whom she loved dearly. She learned hard work and responsibility from a young age as all the family contributed to the farm’ s success and sustaining the large family without the luxury of many “store bought” goods. Her brother’s worked the fields with her Dad and cared for the cows, hogs, and chickens while she and her sisters worked in the large garden and helped her Mom with cooking, household chores, and raising younger siblings. She was proud to be, as she described herself, a Michigan farm girl and attributed her upbringing in a hardworking and loving rural environment as a major factor in her long and healthy life. Dorrie married the love of her life Robert “Bob” Morrison in 1948 and together they raised four sons and a daughter in the Alden and Rapid City area with short stays in Grand Rapids. Dorrie was primarily a homemaker raising her five children most of her life but worked for periods of time at Angell’s IGA grocery and Walt’s mini mart in Alden and later in life worked and retired from Texas Instruments in Central Lake. Mom was extremely kind, generous, and always looked for the good in everyone she met no matter their station in life or what hardships they may have endured. She was known as a superior cook, baker, and cake maker. Many called her the “neighborhood Mom” because of her welcoming nature and “open house” mentality setting an extra plate and providing a bed for her children’s friends for a day, week or sometimes months on end without batting an eye. She was a huge proponent of “buying local” and supported small local businesses even when it required a longer drive and slightly higher prices. She loved living in a small community where her friends and neighbors were friendly, helpful and kind to one another. In later life she moved to Jacksonville, FL, living with her oldest son Jerry and his wife Sandy for nearly six years before returning to the Rapid City area, the local community that she loved so much. She had friends and relatives locally she had known all her life and missed seeing them. She enjoyed wonderful and loving care from her youngest son Scott and her daughter-in-law Donna of Rapid City for the last two years of her life. Mom/Dorrie/MeeMaw had a positive impact on the lives of so many in her family and in the local community and will be sadly missed by all. Dorrie is survived by her children: Jerry (Sandy) Morrison of Jacksonville, FL, Bob (Val) Morrison of Rapid City, Scott (Donna) Morrison of Rapid City, and Vicki (Dave) Udell of Rapid City; grandchildren: Ryan (Melissa) Morrison, Stacy (Joe) Collins, Craig Morrison, John Lechner, Kristin (Remo) Lechner Imparato, Amy Morrison, Angela Morrison, Bobby Morrison, Scottie Morrison, Jason (Brooke) Morrison, Jeremy Morrison, Chad Morrison, Tiffany Udell, Lindsay (Rob) Blakeslee, and David (Emilea) Udell; plus many, many great grandchildren who were the apples of her eye. She is also survived by her sisters: Shirley Grody of Mancelona, Dawn Hebden of Bellaire, Georgann Lucas of Bellaire; and brother-in-law Jim Woodruff of Rapid City. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Morrison, son Chuck Morrison, parents Ray and Lena Harrington, parents-in-law Purcel and Nellie Morrison, and siblings Wanetta James, Wanda Shishler, Helen Coatti, Evelyn Edwards, Ray Harrington Jr., Freda Harrington, Ann Woodruff, and Ross Harrington, plus many brothers and sisters in law. All are invited to a Celebration of Life lunch and story sharing on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at the Rapid City Community Center from 2pm – 4:30pm. “You left us quietly, your thoughts were unknown, you’re memory we are proud to own. We thought about you yesterday and the day before that too, we’ll think about you tomorrow, but that is nothing new. Silent thoughts and tears unseen, wishing your absence was only a dream, deep in our hearts you will always stay, loved and remembered every day. Dear Lord, Treasure her in your garden of rest, for when she was on earth she was the best.” (Poem found in Dorrie’s purse that she had treasured for over 25 years since her husband Bob had passed)

Doris Rosalie Morrison

February 27, 1932 - December 24, 2024