Reverend Francis B. Morse, Jr., 89, of New Bedford, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Wednesday April 10, 2019.
Francis was the son of the late Francis B. Morse, Sr. and Josephine (Berry) Morse of New Bedford and brother of the late James A. Morse of Dartmouth.
Francis was an active duty sergeant of the Army National Guard, having served during the Berlin Crisis in 1961 and in the Yankee Division 126 Battalion 212 Field Artillery 82nd Airborne Supply at Fort Bragg; member of the American Legion and the Forty and Eight; former assistant pastor of The First Baptist Church in New Bedford; pastor of The Caroline Chapel; member of the Justice of the Peace Association; and former member of the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee under President Ronald Reagan. He also proudly owned and managed Adams Trucking and Air Freight Company for over 50 years until he retired at age 75.
Francis leaves his wife, Muriel; children Daune Lowney of New Bedford, Lisa Medeiros of Rhode Island, Kevin Higham and his wife Kathleen of New Bedford, Alan Morse and his wife Carol of Wareham, Karen Souza and her husband Alfred of Fairhaven; grandchildren Alison Higham of New Bedford, Linsey Trombino and her husband Todd of Rhode Island, Ashley Koles and her husband Roman of Natick, Patrick Higham and his wife Lauren of New Bedford, Kelley Resendes and her husband Nicholas of Washington, DC, and Chace Medeiros and his wife Lily of California; and great-grandchildren Micah Trombino and Lucy Higham.
Private services honoring Francis were held on Friday, April 12th at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial with military honors followed in Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to The Caroline Chapel, 103 Caroline St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.