Phyllis Ann Morrison, of Newtown Square Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at age 90 on October 7th. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she is remembered for her passion for family, service, animals, travel and the outdoors. Phyllis was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania on March 15, 1935 to Durward Hazen and Thelma (nee Buckson). Phyllis graduated from Lansdowne High School in 1952, and received an associates degree from Drexel Institute of Technology. Phyllis then started a career as a Secretary at Atlantic Oil. One day while walking her cat, she met her neighbor Donald, and they were married on August 13, 1967.
Phyllis enjoyed spending much of her time helping her community, through volunteer organizations and her church. Active in supporting youth in underserved communities to gain new opportunities, Phyllis worked with children through programs such as the Fresh Air Fund, Youth Advocates, and A Better Chance, improving lives and forming lifelong bonds with those with whom she worked. As a lifelong animal lover, Phyllis studied and became a docent at the Philadelphia Zoo in 1990. She shared her love and knowledge of animals and their conservation both at the zoo and by bringing animals into classrooms through Zoo on Wheels.Phyllis was a gifted piano player and singer. She helped with music classes at her sons’ school, sang in the church choir, led the youth choir, accompanied the church organist on the piano, and filled her house with music when practicing.
Phyllis was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Wallingford for over 53 years. Phyllis was the Sunday School Superintendent, an Officer for the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, led Vacation Bible School in the summer, and served on the altar guild. She organized a monthly meal for homeless people, delivered meals for Meals on Wheels, and visited church members who were unable to leave their homes.
Phyllis and her husband Donald loved to travel and spent many years circling the globe together, visiting 6 continents. They saw tortoises in the Galapagos, kangaroos in Australia, and reindeer in Lapland, sailed through the Panama Canal, traveled above the arctic circle to see the midnight sun and were traveling in Egypt and Turkey on 9/11.Phyllis’s house was always open to family and friends. She hosted many of the family gatherings over the years, including huge Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with her extended family plus friends from near and far as well as visiting students.
Phyllis is survived by her two sons, Norman and Stephen, three grandchildren Charlotte, Hazen, and Isobel, and her sister, Nancy.
A memorial Service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Wallingford, PA on Saturday, October 11th at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to A Better Chance https://abcstrathhaven.org/donate/