Constance Amelia Morrow

Constance A Morrow (nee Vandermarliere) was born December 6, 1949 and died July 24, 2025. She was 75 years old. Per her request Connie died at her home in Cortez, FL, in view of the water and surrounded by her husband and children.

She was born to Gilbert Vandermarliere and Louise Marsack in Detroit Michigan. They were an Air Force family with a busy household. Connie had two older brothers, a younger sister, and a younger brother. She fondly remembers family military assignments to Japan, Charleston, South Carolina and Mountain Home, Idaho. However, Selfridge Air Force Base near Mount Clemens, Michigan was the home base. During her father’s many unaccompanied deployments, the family lived near Selfridge.

Connie graduated from South Lakes High School in St. Clair Shores, MI and earned a bachelors degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. After graduation she worked in several positions in the Detroit area. Her most memorable job from that time was serving on the staff of the Detroit City Council.

Her passion for service eventually led her to join the United States Air Force. She considered being an Air Force Officer to be her life’s work. Connie had a stellar Air Force career, rising to the rank of Colonel and retiring after 26 years. Connie was a proud Transportation Officer and her early years focused on transportation and logistics endeavors. Assignments included Warner Robbins, Georgia; Anderson Air Force Base, Guam; Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Montgomery, Alabama; and two tours in the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. Along the way she earned a Masters Degree from Webster University near St. Louis. Her military focus was on Transportation/Logistics and she had various assignments that included working with an operational weather squadron, operational war planning, and strategic war planning. She was a graduate of the Air Force’s Air War college and was able to add a second Masters Degree to her impressive list of accomplishments. She proudly served in the Pentagon and was in the building during the 9-11 attacks. Connie retired from Military service in 2005 with her final assignment being the Chief, Plans, Doctrine and War Games under the Air Force’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at the Pentagon.

An often-unseen part of Connie was that her passion for service also extended to her faith. She conducted herself to reflect God’s grace to others.

After completing her military career, Connie worked 10 more years for the Defense Intelligence Agency. A memorable highlight included a short deployment to Bagdad, Iraq. She retired in 2014 having served her country for 40 years in city government, United States Air Force, and Federal Civil Service.

Connie married the love of her life, Bill Morrow, in 1995 while stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada. It was a delightful Las Vegas wedding with all the family joining in the celebration. Connie and Bill had been previously married and eagerly blended their two families. It was a huge success with frequent travel to visit children and grandchildren. One of her most enjoyable activities was to take a grandchild on a 13-year excursion. Oh, what joy! Activities included white river rafting, New York City Broadway plays, a Rose Bowl week, cruise to Cancun, Kennedy Center ballet, several Florida vacations, the Calgary Stampede, and of course, Disney World. What fun!

Connie and Bill retired in 2014 and moved to their dream retirement on Anna Maria Island, near Bradenton Florida. In retirement Connie continued her passion for service and served on her Condominium Association’s Board of Directors as well as joining and volunteering with the Community Association Institute. Connie considered herself an educator. Mentoring others was in her DNA and she took pride in her many successful mentorships. She was still actively serving the community at the time of her death.

Her post-retirement years were filled with travel adventures with her husband. They took the trans-Canada train and traveled/vacationed in Italy, Germany, France, and Portugal. They caught the cruising bug and enjoyed Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama Canal cruises as well as several European River cruises. But the best travel was to visit family and grandchildren living in Idaho, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Germany.

Her children will always remember her as supportive, strong, and thoughtful. A dear friend summarized her life with these descriptive attributes: supportive, high standards, kindness, love of family, creativity, humor, leadership, passion for service, and friendship. Her favorite motto: have your head, heart, and feet in the same place.

Connie was predeceased by her parents and three brothers. She is survived by her husband, Bill Morrow; her children Cristen Talbert (Terry), Robert King (Dani), Carolyn Ferros (Chuck), and Kathleen Kennedy (Mike); her sister, Joanne Neff; 14 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren. She leaves a legacy of abundance and life well lived.