Obituary of John Morrison

John Chase Morrison passed away peacefully on September 9, 2023.  He was born at home on North Street, Danbury, on August 25, 1930, to Kenneth and Anna Almy Morrison.

He is survived by his loving daughter Mary Beth Morrison, his devoted son John Chase Morrison Jr. (Chip) and his wife Diane, 4 wonderful grandchildren, Anna Carpenter and her husband Tyler Bishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Chase Carpenter of Stratford, Grant Morrison of Brookfield and Ben Morrison of Middletown.  He is also survived by 3 exceptional Great-Grandchildren, Aubrey, Mina and Alex Carpenter Bishop. There are many beautiful nieces, nephews, and extended family.  He was the last of his large loving family, predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Millicent, his parents, and his brothers William and Kenneth Morrison.

John graduated from Danbury High School, class of 1948, and immediately went to Danbury State Teachers College (now Western Connecticut State University), graduating in 1950 with an Associate in Science degree.  Subsequently he went to The University of Connecticut, graduating in June, 1954, with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering.  

John married Millicent on January 31, 1954, in a winter wedding at the First Congregational Church of Danbury. He honorably served on active duty in the Army of the United States as a Specialist Third Class from December 6, 1954, to December 5, 1956.  Upon moving back to Danbury, he accepted an engineering job at Barden Corp, and began his family in a little ranch on Breeze Hill Rd. The family moved to Long Meadow Hill Rd in Brookfield, CT, in 1963.

John was proud to have served his community in so many ways.  He served as chairman of the building committee for Whisconier School which opened in 1970.  As a member of the Congregational Church of Brookfield he served as Church Moderator.  In 1969, along with Millicent, he served as the first chair of the Yankee Fair and Barn Sale, which was dedicated to helping the people of Biafra, which still continues today. After retirement, he and a group of carpenters formed Morrison’s Gang, to renovate the parsonage and outbuildings and maintain the church building.

He enjoyed extensive traveling with Millicent all over the world, and was especially thrilled with the trip through the Panama Canal.  The place that was truly part of his soul was Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. He built a cabin there and he loved opening his home to friends and family and did for many happy summers.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, September 24, at 5:00 p.m., at the Congregational Church of Brookfield, 160 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, CT 06804, followed by a reception.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Congregational Church of Brookfield, with “Morrison’s Gang” on the memo line.