Mary-Alice M. (McKinstry) Morey, 83, of Natick passed away on July 18, 2011 surrounded by her cherished family in her home. She was the beloved wife of Roger G. Morey with whom she shared 61 years of marriage.
The daughter of the late Edward L. and Norma (Haskell) McKinstry, Mrs. Morey was born on January 31, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. She was a direct descendent of Peregrine White who was the first child born to the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower while it was anchored in Provincetown Harbor in 1620. Mrs. Morey was raised in West Hempstead, L.I., New York where she attended school and graduated from Hempstead High School. While in high school she was co-captain of the cheerleading squad. She went on to earn her B.A. degree in English Literature at Adelphi University where she was the president of the Tri-Delta sorority. She was united in marriage to Roger G. Morey on June 24, 1950 and together they made their home in Hicksville, L.I., New York prior to moving to Natick in 1960. Mrs. Morey was a dedicated and nurturing teacher to many young children for over 20 years at the Natick Cooperative Nursery School. She was an advocate throughout the Natick community involved in the founding of the Natick Service Council and as a member of the Natick Women’s Club. An avid gardener, Mrs. Morey was a member of the 15 Gardeners of Natick and the Garden Club of Natick. She was instrumental in helping with the numerous planting and gardening projects to beautify the Natick Downtown area. In addition to gardening, Mrs. Morey enjoyed ballroom dancing and spending summers in Damariscotta, Maine where she found great solice in canoeing and swimming. As a cancer survivor for the past 11 years, Mrs. Morey was a role model and source of great encouragement to those living with a terminal illness. Her motto was to always stay positive and keep living. She was a longtime member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Wellesley and a former member of St. Paul‘s Episcopal Church in Natick.
In addition to her beloved husband, Mrs. Morey is survived by her devoted children, Pamela M. Sherrill and her husband Michael of Rumford, R.I., Richard H. Morey of Yarmouthport, and Elizabeth A. Marotta and her husband George E. of Milford. She was the cherished grandmother of Joshua Okolita of Lynn, Ellen Newbury of Gray, ME, and Sarah Okolita of Richmond, VA and great-grandmother of Ivy Alice Newbury; loving aunt of Nancy Thayer and family of Bridgehampton, L.I., NY; and dear sister of the late Norman McKinstry and Susan F. McKinstry.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 10 AM in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 79 Denton Rd. Wellesley. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery, South Natick. Visiting hours will be held in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) NATICK on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 from 5-8 PM. Those wishing to remember Mrs. Morey may do so through memorial donations in her name to the Natick Service Council, 2 Webster St. Natick, MA 01760, the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, 2042 Beacon St. Newton, MA 02468, or the Natick VNA, 209 West Central St. Natick, MA 01760.