Shirley H. Morrison

Shirley H. Morrison, 94, the beloved mother, grandmother, gr-grandmother and friend departed this life on August 1, 2022 at UMass Memorial Medical Center of natural causes.

Born in Manchester NH on July 18, 1928, the youngest child and only daughter of Jeanette and Ralph Harkinson, Shirley was a charismatic, “rock ribbed” New Englander and gifted socialite & athlete who was always ready to join her three older brothers on ski trips or golf matches. Shirley graduated from Westbrook Junior College/University of New England in 1949 with a degree in secretarial science.  In 1950 she married the late Mort Morrison and together they raised five daughters together; Janet Clarke, Nancy Mecone, Carol Willard, Sue Shea and Betsy Costello while living in Auburn MA, Lake Sunapee NH and Hobe Sound FL and serving as Vice President & Secretary of Morrison Plywood Inc, a family business in Worcester founded in 1960.

Throughout her life Shirley maintained an outstanding record in athletics. These activities included being the first coach of Auburn High School women’s tennis, golf leagues in NE and FL including capturing a few club championships and even more ‘holes in one’. In the winter her skiing prowess began early as she hiked and skied Tuckerman’s Ravine in the 1940’s and adored skiing anywhere in New England. She had a natural gift of being a sportswoman of great excellence.

Shirley was active in community and civic affairs. She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Masonic Eastern Star & Rainbow Girls. In the 1960’s she made national news when in her leadership role as “Mother Advisor” of Rainbow she staunchly refused to give up the local chapter charter for accepting an African American member into the Oklahoma-based national civic group founded in the 1920’s. She fought a tenacious long, hard public effort for racial integration eventually winning the battle when the Rainbow Girls organization headquarters reinstated the chapter but made no admission publicly of the restrictive nature of membership. 

Family was everything to Shirley. Her parties with Swedish meatballs, chicken fricassee and Hello Dolly bars were legendary. Her family was expansive and included all comers. Her sense of style and fashion were a glamorous addition throughout the decades and most recently at her birthday gathering held at her long-term care facility in Holden MA. She leaves behind her five daughters, sons in laws; Jim Mecone & Eric Willard; beloved partner to Betsy; Phong Khuu, 16 grandchildren: David Dobson, Kristen DeCarlo, Kelli, Michael, Katie, Kolleen & Kayla Shea; Jim & Jack Mecone; Ashley Jonas, Amy & Mike Willard, Dan Hickey, Erin Burtnyk, Chris & Katie Costello; 14 great-grandchildren and a step-granddaughter, Sabrina Rettaliata.

The family plans a private graveside burial at Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester NH where she will join five generations of family buried there followed by a reception at  “The Puritan”, her favorite restaurant since childhood. The family asks that you celebrate Shirley’s life with a heartfelt story, a fond memory some tennis, golf or skiing, and a smile as we remember this beloved woman in our prayers.

Donations can be made to: The Shirley Morrison WC Endowed Scholarship Fund. c/o University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave., Portland, ME 04103 or via online at https://www.une.edu/giving (Note “Shirley Harkinson Morrison WC Endowed Scholarship” in the comments field) or to Moving On Up with Tennis, 132 Spikenard Circle, Springfield, MA 01129 or via online at DONATE | Moving On Up With Tennis | United States