John Morris

John Morris, 88, a longtime resident of North Dartmouth, died peacefully Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford after a period of failing health.

John, son of the late Francisco and Mary B. (Medeiros) Morris, was born in New Bedford on June 29, 1920. On September 6, 1941, he married his beloved wife, Augustina F. (Mello) Morris who died in 1999. Following his marriage to Gussie, he moved to Dartmouth where he has resided ever since. John was blessed with a long, happy and healthy life and was able to travel and do all that he wanted, right up until taking sick last November.

During World War II, John served our country in the United States Army. He served overseas in Hawaii, Marainas, Ryukus and Korea and was honorably discharged in 1945, having attained the rank of Sergeant.

For many years, John worked at the Goodyear in New Bedford. He is best remembered, however, for the hardworking and supportive role he played, working alongside his wife Gussie as co-owner of the former Family Florist on Hemlock Street in New Bedford. His faith was of utmost importance to John. For decades he remained an active, supportive communicant of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth. At one time, he served as a collector and following his retirement, went to daily Mass, as long as his health allowed.

John and Gussie loved to travel in their younger years. In the 1970's, they took a driving trip across country to California, along with Gussie's brother and sister-in-law. Together, they would take frequent trips to Pennsylvania Dutch, Atlantic City and New York City to see the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. Only a few years ago, John visited Walt Disney World in Florida for the very first time and shortly before, made his first return visit to Las Vegas, only having been there one other time, passing through on his way to California. An evening would be complete with a trip to Salvadores Ice Cream in South Dartmouth for a cone of Frozen Pudding Ice Cream and a casual drive around Fort Rodman, or to Horseneck Beach. In his later years, John delivered Meals on Wheels to the elderly and more recently spent nearly every day with his friends at the Dartmouth Council on Aging. There will be an empty chair at McDonald's each morning, where he would meet his friends for coffee and social time before starting the day. He was an enthusiastic fan of the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. Most of all however, John will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, and the very best grandfather and great grandfather any of us could have ever hoped for. He will be sadly missed.

John is survived by his two daughters; Marilyn Hebert and her husband Ronald of Tewksbury, and Cynthia Furtado and her husband Leonard of New Bedford, 6 grandchildren; Scott A. Hebert of Gardner, Kimberly B. Furtado of New Bedford, Christopher J. Furtado of Wareham, Jennifer L. DeOliveira of New Bedford, James M. Hebert of Gardner, and Kerri-Jean Furtado of New Bedford, 6 great grandchildren; Alexandra, Jackson, Jayme, Drew, Brady and Kierra and several nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.

You are invited to attend his visiting hours in PERRY FUNERAL HOME, 111 Dartmouth St., New Bedford, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm Thursday, April 2, 2009. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Friday, April 3, 2009 beginning at 9 AM followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth at 10 AM. John will be laid to rest alongside his beloved wife in the Rural Cemetery, New Bedford immediately following the Mass. Those who wish to remember John by way of a memorial tribute are kindly asked to consider the Dartmouth Council on Aging, 628 Dartmouth St., South Dartmouth, MA 02748. For directions to the funeral home, to sign the online guest book for John or to view the online video tribute created for him, please visit our website at www.fletcherfuneral.com. Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of his grandchildren, Scott and Jim Hebert, and the Lamoureux-Fletcher Community Funeral Home, 105 Central St. in Gardner.