John Richard Emmett Morrissey Jr. of Lillian, died Saturday, Jan 8, 2011.
He was born March 27, 1927 in Detroit to John and Florence LeFevre Morrissey.
Upon graduating from Catholic Central High School in January 1945 he joined the U.S. Navy and served on Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific for the duration of the war.
After the war he earned a degree in accounting from Walsh College of Business at night while working full time and helping raise his daughter and two sons. He was an avid horseman and animal lover owning several horses and many dogs. He was a bull rider into his early 20s and a recently partner with his brother Jim, son Tom and nephew Mike in owning a rodeo bucking bull.
After a long and successful career in Detroit, he and his wife moved to Lillian in 1995. They loved to travel and made many wonderful friends traveling the country for more than 25 years in their motorhomes.
He was an active volunteer his entire life, a tradition passed on from his father and one he passed to his children. His activities included the Veterans of Foreign Wars, his church, local neighborhood watch, and the Optimist Club in Lillian where he often played Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny.
He was preceded in death by his son John “Chip” Morrissey; grandson Ky Morrissey; and his first wife, Pat McMullen Morrissey.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 40 years, Marsha Morrissey; son Tom (Allison) Morrissey of Durango, Colo.; daughters Denise (Bill) Bennett of Brighton, Mich., Debra (Carl) Ullmann of Rochester Mich.; special niece, Peggy O’Neill-Freeman; brothers, Jim Morrissey, Joe Morrissey and Tom Morrissey; sister, Barbara Skene; nine grandchildren, Heather, William, Chris, Katie, Sean, Luke, Kyle, Joe and Brett; and three great-grandchildren, Akayla, Jake and Kylie.
A graveside service was held Friday, Jan. 14 at the Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Humane Society or USO.
Arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
