Mrs. Frances P. Morrison

Frances P. Morrison, 78, of Orlando, Florida, died on 24 May 2012 after her breast cancer, first discovered in 2003, recurred.  Born 30 November 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, she was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years Philip W. Morrison (1933-2006) and her eldest son Philip W. Morrison, Jr. (1960-2002) and is survived by her large and close family:  her other five children Helen Probst, Faith Morrison, Vance Morrison, Sarah Mannschreck, and Daniel Morrison,  her six sons- and daughters-in-law, 11 grandchildren, one granddaughter-in-law, one grandson-in-law-to-be, brother Mike Palmer, sister-in-law Edie Palmer, sister-in-law Joyce Morrison, three nieces, two nephews, two nephews-in-law, one niece-in-law-to-be, six grand-nieces and nephews, and one niece/nephew–to-be.  Frances was preceded in death by her parents Millard and Margaret Palmer (Hinsdale, IL), in-laws Felix and Helen Morrison (Coopersburg, PA), and brother-in-law Richard Morrison (Frederick, MD). Frances Anne Palmer was raised in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Loretto Heights College (Denver, CO) in 1955 with a history degree.   She met her husband Phil in Venezuela, where he was an engineer and she taught school for the dependents of the Orinoco Mining Co. in Puerto Ordaz.  After marrying in 1959, Frances and Phil raised their six children in Bethlehem, PA.  Frances was very active in politics and volunteer work in the Lehigh Valley, serving on the PTA, the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board, as president of the League of Women Voters of the Bethlehem Area, as founding member of the Sun Inn Preservation Association, and as candidate for mayor of Bethlehem in 1981.  Frances received a Masters in Educational Technology from Lehigh University in 1986 after which she worked in a variety of positions, including as a trainer at ATT Technologies (formerly Western Electric). In 1984 Frances and Phil moved to Orlando, Florida, where they both held jobs at AT&T Technologies.  Frances was an avid reader, whose houseful of organized books was a marvel.  She was also a lifelong enthusiast for sewing and crafting, moving from seamstress/tailor to needle point, crochet, and finally cross stitch.  Notable events in the family were marked with individually designed cross-stitch pieces that now grace many homes.  At the time of her death, Frances was designing a cross stitch to comfort a life-long friend who had lost her husband prematurely.  Frances was an enthusiastic genealogical researcher, pulling together her Morrison/Palmer research into the book Everyday Lives (self published, 1994, limited edition).  In 1992 Frances Morrison’s entry of “Lynx” was chosen from 12,000 entries as the name of the Orlando public transit system.  Frances is survived by many friends across generations and continents; she was also preceded in death by same.  Her children especially mourn the loss of a very special mother, who was strong, determined, sure, loving, generous, unstintingly supportive and who just knew that her high expectations would be met. The Memorial Service for Frances Morrison will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday 23 June 2012 at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 4545 Anderson Rd, Orlando FL (407-277-1702).  In lieu of flowers, the Family requests donations be made to the local library (details below). For a single volume donation:  make check payable to Orange County Library System and mail to Community Relation, Orange County Library System, 101 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801. For ongoing purchase of books:  make check payable to Friends of the Library and mail to Friends of the Orange County Library system Book Endowment, Inc. at the same address as above.  Request the bookplate to read “In Memory of Frances P. Morrison.”