Mr. Raymond Whitfield Morse

He was born on May 15, 1933 in Nashville, Tennessee. His middle name was the physician that delivered him. He was raised in Lebanon, Tennessee and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1952. After high school he entered the United States Navy and served four years on the USS Boxer-CVA 21 Aircraft Carrier from 1952-1956 during the Korean War. He was stationed at several bases: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Alameda and San Diego, California. His tours of duty included: Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan; Hong Kong, China; and Manila, Philippines. He sailed many times under the Golden Gate Bridge and celebrated his time of service to our great country with many tattoos.

After being honorably discharged, he then married the love of his life Kathaleen on March 10, 1956. They moved to Tampa, Florida in 1958 and started their new life together.

Shortly after arriving in this sleepy southern town he began working at Continental Can Company (CCC) for the next 21 years. After retiring from CCC, Kathaleen and Raymond started a cleaning service for a short time until he was hired by the Hillsborough County School Board in 1988. He worked at Hillsborough High School as an A/C Maintenance Technician for the next 13 years and retired again in 2001.

During his final retirement he spent most of his time as a picker at yard sales and flea markets looking mostly for steins, Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch collector items. Also, he loved watching westerns and was a big Audie Murphy fan.

Raymond was a faithful Christian who loved his Heavenly Father and was a member of the Nebraska Avenue Church of Christ (NACC) since 1960. A special thank you to his friends in Christ at NACC, especially Dan Ed and Yvonne Straughn, for their thoughts, prayers, phone calls and visits during this difficult journey. He knew he was loved by many.

A very special thank you goes out to Dr. Philip Atigre, MD and the many specialists and nurses at SJMH who assisted in his care. In addition, we would like to thank all of the Home Health medical professionals who supported us at home.

Raymond was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years Kathaleen Rhea Brown Morse; parents Thomas David Morse and Lena Violet Parrish Morse; Brother Tommy Morse; and sister Kathleen Morse Davis; and step-daughter Jonnie Kaye Howell. He is survived by sons Larry G. Morse; and Barry R. Morse; brothers Jerry (Sally) Morse; and Bobby Joe Morse; many nephews, nieces and cousins in Lebanon, Tennessee; step-grandson and step-great- grandchildren Robbie, Callie and Dylan Howell respectively.

Arrangements are being handled by Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens. A private interment will be held at the mausoleum following cremation. A Celebration of Life will be upcoming with the place, date and time TBD.

Our beloved Raymond is now home with his Heavenly Father. He lived a long life full of God’s blessings and will be deeply missed by all those that loved him. Until we meet again…I Love You Dad!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HillsboroMemorial.com for the Morse family.