MARY ELIZABETH GOSS MORSE

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MARY ELIZABETH GOSS MORSE It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing, at Grace Hospital, of Mary Elizabeth Goss Morse. Elizabeth will be missed by her husband Wes Phippen and immediate family members, sister Barbara Mason and brother Milton Goss as well as her children, Cathlynn Morse, Dale Naylor, Drew Ingram, Kimberly Morse, Todd Morse and Brooks Morse; in addition to her fourteen grandchildren. She was surrounded by her family members as she peacefully died on March 3, 2006 at 5:00 a.m. Elizabeth was born January 30, 1934 in Fall River, MA. Her parents, Milton and Evangeline Goss, moved to Swansea, MA where Elizabeth grew up before returning to Fall River in her sophomore year where she attended B.M.C. Durfey High School. In 1955, Elizabeth married her first husband Alan Morse and together they had six children including two sets of twins. The family was featured in the Red Book Magazine in 1960 entitled How to survive with five children under five . While raising now six and working part-time jobs, Elizabeth graduated with Honors from Sunny University , NY in Speech Language in 1973. After achieving her Masters at George Washington University in 1981, graduating in Speech Language Pathology she enjoyed living on a sailboat on the Patomac River during her studies. Her first position following graduation was in Butler, PA followed by a job in Grand Forks, ND. Elizabeth met her second husband, Wes Phippen at Parents without Partners in North Dakota. In 1984, Elizabeth moved to Winnipeg, MB, Canada to join Wes and his four adolescent children, Burke, Todd, Nichole and Loraley Phippen. In Winnipeg, she continued her career as a Speech and Language Pathologist at Deer Lodge. She had an absolute passion for helping people, but seniors especially, who suffer with communication and swallowing disorders as a result of neurological damage. It was her heartfelt desire to improve their quality of life! She received awards by Manitoba Speech and Hearing Society as well as the ALS Society of Canada while being the director of the communication department at the Deer Lodge Center. Elizabeth retired in 1995, however she stayed active in her support with ALS patients and the ALS society. Each one of us will remember her in very specials ways...her passion towards women's issues and civil rights, her dedication to community and God, her compassion in caring for others, her desire for all people to succeed and doing all this with an unstoppable and vivacious spirit! The family would like to thank 4 South Ward team at Grace Hospital and Deer Lodge respite care. Thanks to Wes, her loving husband for care giving above and beyond to our Mother. A very sincere and special gratitude goes to sister Dale and brother Todd for their unending support during the last few years of mother's life. Memorial service will be March 6 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 709 St. Mary's, St. Vital. In lieu of flowers and in honour of Elizabeth, you can make donations to the ALS Society.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 05, 2006