IAN MORRISON

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IAN MORRISON It is with great sorrow that the family of Ian Morrison announce his passing on January 8, 2006. Ian was born November 30, 1947 in Lacombe, AB where his grandfather and father owned Morrison Johnston Hardware. He completed his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Agriculture at the University of Alberta where he met and married his soul mate and best friend, Joanne (nee Bishop) in 1972. Together they travelled to Melbourne, Australia where he completed his Ph.D. They next moved to Winnipeg where he spent 20 years in the Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba. In the mid 1980s the family, which now included Stuart, Katie and Brett, moved to Pakistan for almost two years where Ian was an oilseed agronomist on a CIDA project. In September 1996 his dream to move back to Alberta came to pass when he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics at the University of Alberta. After eight years he stepped down and went back to Australia for seven months administrative leave. Throughout his career Ian touched the lives of many people and worked to improve the world, something that is carried on through his family and students. He loved dearly and was very proud of his family including his sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Paul Monk and nephews, Ken (Sharon, Jessica and Kylie) and Ron (Terry). Also Joanne's sisters, Dina Jenkinson (Greg, Matt and Luke) of Hervey Bay, Queensland, Wendy Bishop (Cameron, Peter, Rocky, Casey and Whitney) of Three Hills, AB, Carol DuMont (Dan, Rob and Tim) of Bridesville, BC and brother-in-law Frank Van Oyen (Debbie, Clark, Graeme and Julie) of Westbridge, BC. His passions were his family, his horses and the outdoors, particularly the horse pack trips to the mountains with his friends. Ian loved to teach and was so excited to be back in the classroom teaching undergraduate students. He also particularly enjoyed his interaction with the farming community. He had an outlook on life which endeared him to all that knew him and a down to earth common sense from which so many drew strength, guidance and humour. He leaves his family, his colleagues at the University of Alberta and the University of Manitoba, and friends across Canada and around the world. He was predeceased by his parents, Jack (1975) and Marjorie (1986) Morrison of Lacombe, AB. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 13 at Sherwood Park Pentecostal Assembly, 1 Brower Dr., Sherwood Park, AB. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Lacombe. An undergraduate student leadership award is being established in memory of Dr. Ian Morrison in the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics at the University of Alberta. Friends wishing to make gifts are asked to make cheques payable to the University of Alberta and mail in care of Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics, 2-14 Agriculture Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5 (780-492-2118). Please sign the book of condolences at www.glenwoodmemorial.com.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 11, 2006