…Dewing School teacher, and artist; 75
TEWKSBURY - Mary Louise “Mary Lou” (Regan) Morris, age 75, died peacefully on Monday, March 21, 2016 at the Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading, surrounded by her beloved family, after a courageous fourteen month battle with Pancreatic Cancer. She was the beloved wife of the late Tewksbury Firefighter and Land Surveyor, Robert P. ”Bob” Morris, who died in 2005.
She was born and raised in Dorchester, one of six children of the late Robert E. and Mildred C. (O’Brien) Regan. She graduated from the Jeremiah E. Burke High School, and Boston State College with a degree in Early Education. She completed her Masters degree in Education at Lesley College. She and Bob moved to Tewksbury in 1960 where they raised their two sons, and where Mary Lou was a communicant of St. William’s Church.
Mary Lou was a beloved special education and third grade teacher at the Lowella Dewing School in North Tewksbury. She will be remembered for her quick wit, sense of humor and love for her students. She retired in 2001 after over 30 years of teaching. In 1970, she founded Camp Pohelo, a summer camp program that continues to serve special needs children in the greater Tewksbury area. Mary Lou was recognized in 1972 as “Woman of the Year,” for her hard work and dedication to the formation and success of the program.
An accomplished artist in photography, painting, and wood carving, Mary Lou was a member of the Tewksbury Community of Artists Organization, and the Tewksbury Firefighters Wives Association. She was an avid golfer, and just two years ago went parachuting for the first time. She was a passionate reader, and instilled this love of reading to the many children in her life. In her retirement years, she enjoyed winters in Longboat Key, Florida, trips to Maine, and spending time with her many friends, family, and of course her grandchildren whom she cherished. Her friends and family will always remember the great memories they shared at her vacation home in Sharon VT, where she spent much of her time with her husband Bob before he passed away.
She leaves two sons and a daughter-in-law, R. Peter Morris of Chicago, Il, and R. Paul and Diane (Doucette) Morris of Tewksbury; seven grandchildren, Catherine, Colin, Megan and Molly Morris of Illinois, and Christina, Timothy and Kyle Morris all of Tewksbury; two brothers, Robert and his wife Margaret Regan of West Dennis, Michael and his wife Marilynne Regan of Long Valley, NJ; three sisters, Susan and her husband Paul Hogan of Brandon,VT, Carolyn and her husband Karl “Chickie” Northon of Plympton, and Theresa and her husband William Forde of Rockland; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours Monday, March 28 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main St. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851-2950. Her funeral will begin Tuesday, March 29 at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury. Burial will follow in Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made in memory of Mary Lou Morris would be appreciated to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and sent to: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Attn: Hillary D. Repucci, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445 Memo line: Dr. Yurgelun’s Research Fund. Checks can be made payable to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in reference to in memory of Mary Lou Morris. tewksburyfuneralhome.com