Barbara C. Morse

Barbara Lees Morse, age 98, of Wakefield, MA.

Barbara C. Morse (née Lees) passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 13 at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital. Born in Peabody, MA on October 19, 1926 to Maurice and Edna Lees of Halifax, England, she was her family's first first-generation American. Barbara attended Peabody schools, and graduated as the salutatorian of Peabody High School's class of '44. Her interest in downhill skiing eventually led to sharing a ride with Thomas D. Morse of Saugus for a Lynn Snow Chasers Ski Club outing to New Hampshire. They spent several years centered around the skiing community in North Conway, NH and were married in 1952. She instilled her love of skiing in her children and would occasionally declare a “time-out" day to take a break from school and head for the Hamilton Ski Tow.

An ardent nighttime sky watcher, in 1957 Barbara climbed Saugus's Castle Rock in the dark to catch sight of the first artificial Earth satellite Sputnik fly through the heavens.

After making their home in Wakefield, raising a family, and seeing her husband and children awarded a variety of college degrees, Barbara declared it was her turn. She attended Middlesex Community College, earning an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts with the double distinction of being both the oldest and the highest ranked member of her graduating class. Barbara loved the Boston Pops and Tanglewood concerts on the lawn and would often be first in line for rush seats for their open Christmas rehearsal. Summer vacations with her family on Peaks Island in Maine, picking blueberries and reading Robert Parker mysteries on the beach, were among her fondest memories.

Barbara lived a long and fulfilling life filled with adventure and joy. She will be missed by all who were drawn into her orbit. Barbara was predeceased by her husband Tom and leaves her two children Thomas and Julie. She was a loving and fiercely devoted "Granny" to grandchildren Kimberly and Dexter Morse of Maine and KJ (Kenneth John) and Ellie (Ellen Barbara) of Massachusetts.

A private family burial took place at Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield. Arrangements were in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggests making a charitable contribution to The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc., PO Box 321, Wakefield, MA 01880 (tsfofwakefield.org/) and note that the donation is for the Thomas D. Morse Fund.