Nikolai Thomas Joseph Morey

Nikolai Thomas Joseph Morey, age 5, was born on July 30, 2019, in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria and entered the arms of Jesus on the evening of January 18, 2025. He was born into the hearts and home of the Morey family on February 2, 2024, after an 18-month adoption process. Nikolai is the beloved son of Jonathan P. Morey and Rebekah V. Carney-Morey, beloved brother to Emily, Ella, Julian, Anneliese, Thea, Loretta (Rettie), Johanna, Hope, Evangeline and Elisha Morey, beloved grandson to Roger Morey, Mary Peele, Thomas Carney and Julianne Carney, beloved nephew to Aaron (Cindy) Morey, Stuart (Inga) Morey, Alicia McCarroll, Sarah (Kirk Juhas) Morey, Nicole (Chris Johannesen) Morey, Megan (Justin Hamm) Donnelly, Erin Carney, Christopher Carney and Nicholas Carney and beloved cousin to Gavin, Dylan, Lily, Sebastian, Oliver, Zeke, Jetty, Thomas, Kevin, Lilia, Caroline, Trever, children of Christopher Carney, and Oliver. Nikolai is also survived by many Great Aunts and Uncles and distant cousins who loved and welcomed him.

Nikolai spent his first four and a half years of life in an orphanage in Bulgaria. His short time here was full of love and life and exploration after a lifetime of isolation, malnutrition, and minimal stimulation. Nikolai was a lover of people. It only seemed fitting that he be born into the hearts of a large family. When Nikolai arrived, Elisha was only a week old. Nikolai quickly became fascinated with his little baby head and learned to only be gentle with Elisha’s head. He maintained his fascination with Elisha’s head throughout the year. Nikolai loved to rock on his rocking horse or in a rocking chair and he quickly realized that rocking with people was the best. One of his best rocking partners was Anneliese. Nikolai loved water. He loved when it spilled. He loved wiping it up. He loved splashing. He loved puddles. He loved rain. He did his happy dance when the bathing suit bag came out. He loved bath time with Thea and his other siblings. Nikolai loved to be outside. In Bulgaria, that opportunity was a luxury, at best. When people would put their shoes on, Nikolai would show such joy! Rettie and Johanna were some of his favorite outdoor buddies. Nikolai also loved to explore the outdoors with big brother Julian. Nikolai loved shoes. He loved all shoes, but had a particular fondness for sparkly, fancy shoes. He loved the little girls’ dress up shoes and often requested a “field trip” upstairs to Ella’s closet. Ella has the fanciest shoes of everyone. Nikolai also loved Emily’s boots…so much that one would often go missing. Nikolai received two pair of his own fancy shoes over the past couple of months. He couldn’t have been happier. Over time, Nikolai began to stash some of his favorite (or not so favorite) things. We were often missing one shoe, both shoes, or any other item and would later find his hiding places. As time went on, Nikolai came to love bedtime story time. The little boy who landed here and sat and rocked himself to sleep on his own bed (by his choice) soon let us rock him and snuggle him. He loved story time with Hope and Evangeline. He particularly loved books with song and rhythm. He loved, “The Friendly Beasts” and “Barnyard Dance.” He’d often lay right on top of Jonathan. Hope would ask him, “Do you want to hop on Pop?” He loved to snuggle under the big blanket on our bed. He was a lover of soft blankets and beanbag chairs. Nikolai was incredibly excited by a new homemade pair of pajama pants this winter. He loved to dress up in his sisters’ dresses or other way-to-big articles of clothing. His excitement for the little things was contagious. Nikolai loved to swing. I vividly remember using his love for the swing to teach him his first sign back in March. His ability to use sign to communicate took off. Nikolai loved music. He loved to dance. Nikolai loved his extended family. They showed him such love and they brought him such joy. He was blessed to see extended family many times over this past year. As Nikolai became acclimated to his new home and family, he explored the world beyond his home. Nikolai loved our friends, particularly Dave and Paul. He was blessed to have friends who were like family. He was blessed with two amazing Godparents. It was clear that Nikolai found a safe and calm place with his father, Jonathan. It became clear as time went on that he had a particular affection for his mother, Rebekah. Her arrival home often brought the biggest happy dance. Nikolai was loved and cared for by his school/therapy teams. Their investment in his full potential was comforting and uplifting. Nikolai was loved by all those who met him…by his family, his friends, and his community.

A funeral mass for Nikolai will be held Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church, Hickory, 533 E Jarrettsville Rd, Forest Hill, MD 21050. Following the funeral mass will be a graveside service at 12:00 PM at Highview Memorial Gardens, 3433 Fallston Rd, Fallston, MD 21047.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Global Adoption Services, Inc. of Bel Air, Maryland as they are the reason Nikolai found a home here, or to the Brandon Tolson Foundation of Bel Air, Maryland, as they have provided us with incredible support through this challenging time.

https://www.adoptglobal.org/

https://brandontolsonfoundation.org/product/donation/