MARGARET JEAN MORISON

S e pte m b e r 3 0, 1 93 0 – M a y 1 9, 2 023

Margaret Jean Morison (nee Foster) passed away from the frailty of old age on May 19, 2023. She was predeceased by her husband, Brian W.B. Morison; and dearly missed daughter-in-law, Becky Morison (nee Murray); and sisters inlaw, Carol Foster, Jane Gale and Margie (Margaret) Morison (nee Holbrook); and brothers-in-law, Andy McLaughlin, John Morison and Robert Gale; and survived by her brother, J. Peter Foster; sisters-in-law, Nancy Morison and Barney Morison; her four children and their spouses, Frank (Trina), Fred (Jill), Gordon (Becky), and Martha (Stuart O’Connor); nine grandchildren, Siri and Hugh Morison, Ora Morison (Adam Day), Brian Morison (Sara D’Arcey) and Brittany Morison, Rachel (Tyler James) and Mackenzie Morison (Michael Chang), and Emma (Rory McNeill) and Callum O’Connor; and, four greatgrandchildren, Lacey, Finnegan and Rowan Day, and Lily James.

The daughter of Dr. W.G. Foster and Jean Marguerite Foster, Margaret grew up in a big house in Hamilton with her loving parents; her treasured older brother, Peter; two great aunts, Aunt Aggie and Aunt Grace; a black cat named Sally; and a Scottie dog named Angus. Mum collected friends (and easily maintained lasting relationships, in spite of a rare tendency to speak her mind) throughout her long life, starting with her next-door neighbour and immediate best chum Beth Lennard (nee Murgatroyd), and continuing through her school days at Strathallan College and Whitney Hall at the University of Toronto, the Bell Telephone where Mum worked after graduating from university, Melrose Church, Wright’s Road in Port Carling, Muskoka, and the Hamilton Mountain where neighbourhood friendships were fostered over babies and growing children, weekly bridge club, tennis at the White Bridge tennis club, and endless hours of volunteering. With her children off to university, Mum turned entrepreneur in the early ‘80s when she opened her shop ’Mike’s World of Books’ on James Street S., which was a book lovers’ paradise of over-stuffed shelves veiled behind billowing clouds of cigarette smoke (Mum finally gave up smoking in the late ‘80s). Over endless cups of hot tea, Mum and Mrs. Joyce Dunton and Miss Carla VanLente, her well-read ”assistants,” indulged in conversation on a variety of subjects (not necessarily literary) with the occasional book sold. Mother was a breathtakingly beautiful bride in a graceful antique ivory peau-de-soie taffeta gown when she married the love of her life, Brian W.B. Morison, at Melrose Church on September 18, 1954. At the time, Dad was a City Alderman and young lawyer working in partnership with his father, Col. Frank W. Morison. As a newlywed and young mother, Mum juggled the demands of being a political wife, with raising four (delightful) children, in time becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother. Mum was an animal lover, boat lover (especially Dippys and canoes) and found joy in the small everyday moments of life. She never failed to appreciate a beautiful spring, fall, winter, or summer day. Together, Mum and Dad enjoyed tennis followed by lunch and a beer, hiking along wooded trails at the Royal Botanical Gardens, and elsewhere also followed by lunch and a beer. Beginning in the late ‘60s, Mum and Dad began downhill skiing every winter weekend at Alpine Ski Club with four children in tow. Mother would get us onto the hill, comforted we would not return until lunch. Mum and Dad also traveled the world top to bottom side to side. Mum’s enjoyment of travel continued after Dad passed away when she and Nancy Morison rafted down Nahanni River in the NWT followed by a cruise to the Antarctic and a river boat cruise in Europe.

Mum’s unwavering love for her family defined her character. As ”Granny,” she developed a unique and special relationship with each of her beloved grandchildren and cherished long languorous weeks with each of them at the cottage on Lake Joseph, Muskoka, where she summered for 87 of her 92 years. She found no greater delight than to play with her grandchildren, making sure they had bacon and eggs or pancakes for breakfast or milkshakes on demand, lunch and then dinner followed by bedtime stories. Nothing made her happier than to have the family circled around at the traditional early evening ”Goodie Time” on the large verandah at Mum and Dad’s Muskoka cottage and at Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner. Mum enjoyed spending time with all of her sisters-in-law and wide circle of friends as well as friends of her children and friends of her grandchildren, who also knew her by ”Granny.” She was also particularly proud of being ”Auntie Marg” to her many nieces and nephews (and great-nephews and great-nieces) for the Morison, Foster, and McLaughlin clans.

The Morison family is grateful to Jean Mullens who, with high competence and compassion, was Mother’s ”Doc” for years, and who cared for Mother so well, making old-fashioned ”house calls.” The family also wishes to express our great appreciation for the amity and steadfast loyalty offered by Ms. Mary Jane King to Mum and Dad, and the family for half a century. Mary Jane began working for Dad as his Legal Assistant at age 18 and stayed for 26 years until he passed away in December 2002; afterwards Mary Jane remained an indispensable member of our family and continued to work and assist us for the next 21 years until her retirement (and even after her ”retirement”) last year; and to Sue Roberts for her friendship and unfailing kindness to Mother over decades. We would also like to recognize, with thanks, our much-loved family friend and Hamilton Mountain backyard neighbour, Dr. Gordon Cameron, who welcomed Mum with open arms when she moved into Amica and ”kept an eye” on her, just in case. Mother truly enjoyed the upbeat and friendly staff members at Amica. Thank you for helping to make Mother’s last year a happy one.

Lastly, thank you also to the skilled and considerate nurses and doctors at the Hamilton General Hospital in dealing with Marg’s short illness. Finally Mum, while it pains us to say goodbye, we rejoice in knowing in our hearts that you have been reunited with Dad and Becky and your parents and old friends. You are forever in our hearts, Mother. We will miss you. May you rest in peace.

A celebration of Margaret’s Life will be held the afternoon of September 30 (Mum’s birthday), at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club, more details to follow. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society or your own favourite charity.