| Notes |
- Niagara Gazette - 7/18/1963
Murdo Morrison
Murdo Morrison was a congenial
Gaelic poet and humble philosopher
who brought- joy into the lives of his
associates.
During a long career as a baker,
employe of the Board of Education and
a member of the staff of the Central
YMCA, Mr. Morrison made a host of
friends, young and old, schoolboys and
girls and senior citizens.
As a poet in the little used Gaelic
language, he achieved considerable success.
He had a book of his poems published
in 1923, and he won prizes in
Gaelic literary competitions. °
He was devoted to his church-the
Pierce Avenue Presbyterian Church-
and to his family and was rightfully
proud of the achievements of his son,
Rev. Dr. William Angus Morrison, who
is general secretary of the Board of
Christian Education of the United Presbyterian
Church of the U.S.A.
Wherever he passed in this life, Mr.
Morrison left behind a feeling of
warmth and friendliness, which is no
small contribution.
ALSO
Niagara Gazette - 7/14/1963
A Gaelic poet and translator
of wide fame, Murdo Morrison,
79, of 1024 Grove Ave.,
died Sunday (July 14, 1963) in
Memorial Hospital after being
ill since February.
Mr. Morrison was born on
the Isle of Lewis, Scotland,
and came here in 1911.
He was a baker from 1911
to ° 1928 in various bakeries.
In 1920 he became- a stationary
engineer for the Board of
Education and w o r k e d at
Trott Vocational High School
and Hyde Park School, retiring
in 1954. In 1955 he became
a member of the YMCA athletic
department s t a f f . He
worked at the Central YMCA
until recently. He was a member
of the Retired Men's Club.
He taught the Adult Bible
Class of Pierce Avenue Presbyterian
_C h u r c h for more
than 20 years. He was a member
of the Free Church of
Scotland Toronto Mission.
As a Gaelic poet he published
many poems and Gaelic
translations and one book,
"The Traveler in the Glen,"
in 1923. He was the prize winner
in the Gaelic literary competition
in Scotland and Canada
in 1946 and served as
judge in the Gaelic Mod in
Nova Scotia, also in 1946.
Many of his poems are pop-
ular songs wherever Gaelic is
spoken.
He married Kathleen Munro,
also from the Isle of Lewis,
in 1914. She died in the flu
epidemic in 1918. He married
Theresa Witmer in 1920.
Surviving, in addition to his
wife, are a daughter, Miss
Mary Isabelle Morrison, this
city; a son, Rev. Dr. William
Angus Morrison, Philadelphia;
and three grandchildren. Dr.
Morrison is general secretary
of the Board of Christian Education
of the United Presbyterian
Church of the U.S.A.
The funeral will be held at
1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the
Gridley Funeral Home with
Rev. Dr. A. Ferman Kearny,
pastor of Pierce Avenue Presbyterian
Church, officiating.
Burial will be in Oakwood
Cemetery.
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1883 - 1963 (80 years)