Louise Estes Morrison

Louise Estes Morrison died Sunday, October 26, 2008, at her home in Asheville. She was born July 20, 1915, in Granville County, the daughter of the late Hugh Palmoson Estes and Martha Irene Blake Estes. Louise graduated from Highsmith Hospital; School of Nursing in Fayetteville, where she earned a Registered Nurse degree. She is also a graduate of Guilford College in Greensboro where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in History. At Guilford College she was a Dana Scholar and president of the History Honor Society. During her career as a Registered Nurse, she was employed by Highsmith Hospital, Duke University Hospital, Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro (where she was Night Supervisor), and the Asheville Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (where she worked in the office of the Medical Director). For a time, she served as Secretary of the Office of Industrial Nurses of the North Carolina Nurses Association. In 1939, she was united in marriage with J. Thomas Morrison and joined the Presbyterian Church with him. She became active in the work of the church, particularly in the Sunday school, where she taught for over 50 years, and the Women of the Church. In 1973, she was ordained as a deacon and in 1975, she was awarded a Life Membership in the organization of the Presbyterian Women. She was a member of the Asheville Toastmistress Club and served the organization as both treasurer and president. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, J. Thomas Morrison. She is survived by three children, Jim Morrison of Greensboro, Martha Hensley and her husband, Rex, of Asheville, and Susan Stradley and her husband, Les, of Asheville; six grandchildren, Jackie Eller and his wife Aby, Janet Eller, Jody Eller and his wife, Chris, and Jeff Eller, all of Asheville, Matt Stradley and his wife, Laurie, of Pittsboro, and Martha Stradley of Charlotte; and two great-grandchildren, Brittany Eller and Ashlee Eller. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 29, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Mark Ramsey and Bob Busey officiating. A reception will follow after the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Home Society of NC, PO Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27514-4608, or to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804, for ABCCM or the Presbyterian Home for Children at Black Mountain ministries. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting with the arrangements.