January 13, 1937 – August 6, 2024
Joanne E. (Morris) Morgan, a resident of Reading for 58 years, passed away after a brief illness on August 6, 2024, at the Lowell General Hospital. She was 87 years of age.
Joanne was born in Rockland, Maine, on January 13, 1937, the daughter of the late Cecil L. and Evelyn F. (Niles) Morris. Joanne grew up in Tenants Harbor, Maine moving to Massachusetts at the age of 13. She attended high school in Burlington, MA, and worked in the mail room at Raytheon, her first job at the age of sixteen.
Joanne married the love of her life, Richard Morgan, on Feb.19, 1955. They had four children together, settling down in Woburn, MA and eventually building a home together in Reading, MA. Here, they raised their children together and had a fulfilling family life. After her husband’s unexpected passing in 1993, Joanne stayed at her home in Reading until 2023, when she moved to Chelmsford Crossing Assisted Living.
In her younger years, Joanne enjoyed boating and taking walks along the beach. She was a great swimmer and avid water skier. She loved to shop, working at Macy’s for a time where she could find the best shopping deals. She enjoyed bowling and always loved playing card games. She could master putting a puzzle together in no time.
Joanne enjoyed traveling with friends and family from Europe, to the shores of Aruba. Always willing to try a new adventure, she took up snowmobiling in her later years.
She found great comfort and joy in her later life adopting her first pet, her precious cat Kitty.
Joanne was the beloved wife of the late Richard F. Morgan. Devoted mother of Marie A. Gavel and her husband Duane, Sr. of Dracut, Dianne E. Steenbruggen and her late husband Ronald of Salem NH, Steven G. Morgan and his wife Kathy of North Reading and Jean E. Groves and her husband Kurt of Chelmsford. Cherished sister of Dorothy Minghella and her late husband Frank of Woburn and Shirley Robinson and her late husband Al of Merrimack NH. Cherished sister of the late Pauline Thomas of Maine and the late Richard Morris of Maine. Loving grandmother of Nicole, Duane, Jr., Derek, Danielle, Brett, Doug, Chris, Ashley, Amanda and Justin. Loving great-grandmother of Aislyn, Nathan, Jacob, Evelyn, and Evan.
Visiting hours will be held for Joanne at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.) in Reading on Sunday August 11, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Monday August 12, 2024, at 11:00 am followed by burial in Charles Lawn Cemetery in Reading.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joanne’s memory to the Lowell Humane Society 951 Broadway St. Lowell, MA 01854 or www.lowellhumanesociety.org
