MIDDLEBURY — The Reverend Donald R. Morris died peacefully with his wife May by his side on Dec. 4, 2020, at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury. He was 90 years old.
Born in Schenectady, N.Y., he was the son of Ernest A. Morris and Carmen S. Morris. He graduated from Harvard University in 1951, where he was a member of the R.O.T.C. He subsequently served four years in United States Navy, including two years as an instructor in Naval Science at Yale University.
Don served as an officer in the United States Foreign Service for ten years. He was an adviser to the U.S. Delegation to the Geneva Conference on Discontinuance of Nuclear Weapon Tests as Special Assistant to the Assistant Administrator for International Affairs at NASA. Don was later appointed Deputy Associate Administrator for Management in NASA’s Office of Applications.
Don began study for the priesthood while in federal service. After retirement, Don was ordained an Episcopal Priest by The Right Reverend John T. Walker in Washington, D.C. Before moving to Vermont, Father Morris led congregations in southeast Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. Moving to Vermont in 1991, Father Morris served Church of Our Savior, Killington, Vt.; Saint Paul’s, Vergennes, Vt.; Holy Trinity, Swanton, Vt.; and Trinity Church, Rutland, Vt. He was a longtime member of Saint Stephen’s in Middlebury, where he also served as an occasional substitute priest.
Don was predeceased by his first wife, the late Cynthia Taft Morris. He is survived by his wife May B. Morris and by four children: David Taft Morris, Michele Taft Morris, Justine Gregg Winn and David Gregg IV; and by six grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen’s Church, Middlebury or John Graham Housing and Services, Vergennes, Vt. A memorial service will be held in Middlebury at a safe time.◊