Obituary of Nancy Lou Morrison

Nancy Morrison- 

   Nancy Lou (Beck) Morrison died on July 30, 2023, after a long and extremely courageous battle against multiple medical hurdles. As was her spirit, she never complained and always had a smile for her family, friends, and caregivers, and kept her silly sense of humor right until the end: Just an hour or two before her death, she was told “comfort care” meant she could have anything she wanted to eat or drink. She got a twinkle in her eye, looked at the doctor mischievously and said, “Gin and tonic?” We all laughed – even the doctor!

   Nancy was born Dec. 1, 1940, in Enid, Okla., to Herbert Hodge Beck and Norma Mae Walters. The pair divorced when Nancy was young, and she was raised by her mother, a schoolteacher, in Tulsa. When she was 16, Nancy met the young man who would become her life partner, Oscar Joseph “Joe” Morrison, at a Halloween party. They married on Feb. 14, 1959, and remained steadfastly in love for more than 64 years. They had one daughter, Lisa Michele, and the trio were always making jokes and teasing each other, to the point where once, Lisa, as a child, remarked that being in the family was like “living in a sitcom.”

   Nancy was a volunteer most of her adult life, starting as a Tulsa Camp Fire group leader and later becoming the president of the chapter, as well as working PTA events in Tulsa. Several of “her girls” from the Camp Fire group still consider her their “second mom” – as do a few other close friends from that era.

   After the family moved to Evergreen, Colo., in 1978, and especially after Lisa was in college, Nancy’s volunteer work intensified. She wasn’t ever afraid of getting her hands (and everything else) dirty. The family always worked together – and mostly enjoyed – DIY projects, so it wasn’t surprising that Nancy led many volunteer teams in display demolition and construction at what was then the Hiwan Homestead Museum (now the Hiwan Heritage Park and Museum). Almost all if not all the people on these construction crews were women. Nancy’s leadership qualities promoted her to the volunteer position of president (and past president) of the Jefferson County Historical Society (currently the Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society). Her volunteer efforts later extended to helping organize and run three large book sales in Aspen Park which netted more than $10,000 for the Intermountain Humane Society. Her love of animals ran deep, and the family pets were always a source of enjoyment for Nancy.

   Nancy and Joe designed and built their dream home in Pine Junction, Colo., and enjoyed mountain life there for more than 20 years. During retirement, Joe and Nancy enjoyed taking numerous trips to visit friends and family in such far-flung places as London, Grand Cayman, and Ireland. They also spent time snowmobiling in their wilderness Colorado mountain backyard. Another favorite spot was their family vacation home on the Oregon coast, where they would enjoy each summer with Lisa and her husband, Mark Campbell.

   Nancy leaves behind her husband, Joe; her daughter, Lisa; and her son-in-law, Mark, but she will never leave us. A celebration of life will take place at another time. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Intermountain Humane Society in her name.