1933 – 2016

SOUTH PARIS — Gertrude E. “Trudy” Morse, 82, of Norway, and truly the heart of the Morse family, died late Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21, at the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris, with her loving family by her side.

Trudy was born on Jan. 30, 1933, in Norway, daughter of Stanley and Lillian (Edwards) Thurston.

Trudy attended local schools, graduating from Norway High School.

On April 11, 1953, she was married to Clifford A. Morse in Norway. She and Clif both worked at local shoe shops until he went to work in the woods, and she stayed at home, working diligently to provide her husband and growing family a warm and loving home.

Trudy was a longtime member of the Heywood Club in Norway, and enjoyed camping with her husband and family throughout Maine, but some of her favorite places were Winslow Park in Freeport, on Aziscohos Lake and at Happy Horseshoe Campground. Clif and Trudy took their beloved pug, Rocky, for many Sunday rides. She enjoyed knitting, especially making hats and mittens to give to everyone.

Truck-pulling was one of the sports the family enjoyed most together, and Trudy didn’t let the boys have all the fun. She drove her husband’s truck, “The Ridge Runner,” many times.

The common denominator in all of her simple pleasures in life, was indeed the company of her family. That could not have been any more evident than Sundays spent at the family camp on North Pond, where her children and grandchildren liked to waterski and kneeboard. She enjoyed rides on their party boat, fishing, and her time on the pond with family and friends.

She is survived by her two sons, Rick Morse of Norway, and Stan Morse and his wife, Shari, of Norway; a daughter, Peggy Silver and her husband, Albert, of Greenwood; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Clif, on Jan. 15, 2015; and her brother, Deane Thurston, in 1994.

Words of condolence may be expressed at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com.