Barbara Morgan Thoresen

Barbara Sutcliffe Morgan Thoresen died April 21, 2017. She was born in Acushnet, MA., home of the Titleist Golf Ball Co. on July 5, 1925 to Joseph and Madge Sutcliffe, the youngest of two daughters. Barbara grew up in Fairhaven, MA. where she attended high school. She played violin in the orchestra and was on the girls basketball and field hockey teams. She was voted “Best Dancer” in high school.

She graduated from the Kenyon Business School in 1944. She was a member of the Fairhaven Unitarian Memorial Church where she was the RE Director for 10 years and secretary of the Women’s Alliance for 5 years. She was the hostess for the church sponsored ballroom dance classes for many years, where all her children took lessons.

In 1946 Barbara married John Thor Morgan and they had four children, Mina Jean, Dana Joseph, John Thor Jr. and Robert Frederic. After John’s death in 1962, she raised their children with the help of family and friends. For 13 years she worked as a bookkeeper and billing clerk for J&B Uniforms in New Bedford. Then she worked for Rhodes Eyelet Co

She married William Thoresen in 1976 and moved to Sarasota, Fl. where they started Thor Carpet Cleaning Services. William died on August 6, 1992.

Barbara was a 50 year member and Past Matron of the Gifford Chapter Order of Eastern Star in Fairhaven. She was Past Grand Deputy, Past Grand Adah and Past Deputy Grand Marshall of the Grand Chapter of Eastern Star of MA. Barbara was a member of the Ladies Oriental Shrine and a member of the Red Hat Society.

She was Administrative Assistant for Sahib Temple in Sarasota, Fl. for 18 years. She was there at its inception and was an integral part in establishing and growing of Sahib Temple.

Barbara moved to Plano, TX. in Dec. 2009 after hip surgery to live with her daughter Mina and favorite son-in-law Bill Daffinee. The three of them went on a cruise to Alaska to fulfill Barbara’s bucket list of visiting all 50 states. She enjoyed watching sports and going to her great grandsons’ games. She especially liked to watch golf and she even got a hole-in-one herself. Barbara enjoyed quilting, crocheting, knitting and doing crossword puzzles and playing games with all of her family members. She especially liked her gambling trips with her granddaughter Robin to Choctaw and all her other adventures with the family.

Barbara lived at the Texas Star Assisted Living for about one year. She loved taking care of ‘her’ ducks and meeting some very dear people.

Barbara will be greatly missed by her three living children, daughter Mina Daffinee of Plano, TX., sons Dana Morgan of Lawrence, KS. and John Morgan of Lakeville, MA., son-in-law Bill Daffinee, daughter-in-law Sharon Morgan, her nine grandchildren, Robin Coulonge of Allen, TX. Kimberly Waidande of McKinney, TX. Patrick Morgan of San Diego, CA., Seana Kimzey and Meghan Scott of Lawrence, KS., John T. Morgan III of San Antonio, TX., David Gary of Port Orange, FL., Robert Morgan of Orlando, FL. and Crystal Morgan of Fitchburg, WI. and all their respective spouses, Her ten Great Grandchildren, Lexy and Quinton Coulonge, Joey and Joshua Waidande, Liz and Zak Morgan, Marina and AJ Kimzey and Makayla Lambrecht and a baby on the way, and Izzy Morgan.

Donations in Barbara Thoresen’s name can be made to: Shriner’s Hospital for Children c/o Recorder Sahib Shrine Center, 600 North Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL. 34232