Marilyn Morris

Marilyn E. Morris of Mt. Vernon (IN) died Friday, Jan. 15, at Deaconess Hospital

Marilyn was born to Paul and Betty (Ham) Effinger in New Harmony, IN on June 1, 1939, and was their only child. Her father was killed in an industrial accident and fire early in her life, but her mother worked long and hard to give Marilyn a good childhood; she also taught her the importance of being a good and true friend and Christian. Betty later married Clifford E. Stone who was a friend and role model for truly living a Christian life.

Marilyn grew up in New Harmony and attended school there. In high school she was very active in band, glee club, choir, 4-H, was a cheerleader, member of The National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, won the Kiwanis Good Citizenship Award and graduated as valedictorian of her senior class of 1957.

She attended Indiana University for two years where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. On June 28, 1959, she married Dave Morris, also of New Harmony, and they transferred to the University of Illinois where both studied and Marilyn also worked part time for the University.

After college they lived in Texas and Oregon with the Air Force, then returned to Posey County and decided to make their home in Mt.Vernon, with Marilyn moving there in 1963 while Dave finished his duty overseas. Marilyn was active in Tri-Kappa and enjoyed playing tennis and working with the swimming program at Western Hills Country Club. She enjoyed traveling, working in her flower garden, being with son Doug and daughter Anne, and serving at the First United Methodist Church. At the church she sang in the choir for 46 years, taught Sunday School, was active in the Woman’s Society, served on most committees over the years, and was Chairman of the Pastor-Parish Relations committee for several years. Marilyn served on committees at the district level for her church and was a lay member to the former South Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church for ten years. She firmly believed in the power of prayer and founded a prayer ministry within the church, including the Chapel Prayer Team. She also wrote a weekly prayer focus for distribution within the church, and did this faithfully for 399 weeks.

In the early 1970’s, Marilyn worked with several others from Mt. Vernon to bring the Ecumenical Cursillo movement to the area. The purpose of this was to demonstrate the possibility of living a Christ-like life today and to nurture those who would do just that, and she was very active in this for several years.

Marilyn was especially honored to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of Deaconess Hospital in Evansville from 1998-2007, when she became Director Emeritus. She was nominated to the Board of Directors of the Deaconess Foundation in 1988, served as Chair of that Board from 2002-2004 and remained a member.

She served for several years on the Board of The Family and Children’s Service (now the Lampion Center) in Evansville, where she was Secretary, Vice President, and in 1987 received their Award of Merit for her outstanding service in promoting and preserving healthy family relationships. She helped establish the Children’s Learning Center in Mt. Vernon, served on the Board, and was President of the Board 1999-2000. She actively worked with the Alexandrian Public Library and received their Librarian’s Award in 1989 for establishing the first Friends of the Library newsletter.

Most of all, she was proud of her family: son Doug, daughter-in-law Lorri and their sons Andrew, Graham, Dylan and Jacob, of Greer, SC, and her daughter Anne and her husband Boli Muentes of Lake Worth, FL.

Marilyn fought pancreatic cancer for 5 ½ years and leaves behind a hole that cannot easily be filled.

She was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather.

Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 601 Main St., from 4-7 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 19, in Wesley Hall.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Jan. 20, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at the church.

She will be cremated and her ashes buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in New Harmony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Deaconess Hospital Foundation in Evansville.

The Austin~Stendeback Family Funeral Home at 1330 E.4th Street and the Schneider Funeral Home at 512 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, IN are both assisting the family with their arrangements. Online condolences may be left at austinfuneralhome.com or at courierpress.com