Rev. J Elliot Peirce Morrison

Rev. J Elliot Peirce Morrison (b. 8.21.28) was, as he used to say, “called up yonder” early Saturday morning, September 21, 2024. His beloved wife of 71 years, Florence Reeder Morrison, was by his side. Elliot was a pastor, companion, friend, mentor, spiritual leader, counselor and beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, and uncle. The son of a railroad executive, Elliot was born in Garret IN, and lived at many division points along the B&O Railroad. He attended high school at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, PA, then followed family tradition doing his undergraduate work in engineering at Yale University. While at Yale, Elliot felt called to become a pastor, attending McCormack Seminary in Chicago. This is where he met Florence, his future wife, best friend, constant companion, and mother of his five children. As a Presbyterian pastor, Elliot served churches in New Carlile OH, Ithaca NY, Alliance OH, Pittsburgh PA, Cincinnati OH, Fairbanks AK, Taylorville IL, and Roger City MI. After retirement, he and Florence were very active in the Presbytery of Mackinac and the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City. A primary focus of Elliot’s ministry was social justice. He participated in the March on Washington, moved his family to inner city Pittsburgh so they would be closer to activities of the civil rights movement. In multiple ways he championed and supported persons of all walks of life. He was a strong advocate for inclusivity in and outside of the church. Elliot was an adventurer and traveler. He summered on Old Mission peninsula at Neah-ta-wanta in the cottage his grandfather purchased in 1925, sailing, swimming and generally getting into mischief. With his wife and children, he did a lot of camping, using a tepee as their primary shelter. Many of their hikes ended up as daddy-walks through the roughest terrain in the area! Summers were spent teaching his children to sail, swim and ski in Bowers Harbor. Elliot travelled with his wife and family across the US and throughout Alaska. They especially enjoyed travel with the extended family and as a retired couple to locations around the world. In his retirement he took up a new activity, becoming an avid and somewhat proficient alpine skier earning the nickname Crash Elliot. Elliot is survived by his wife, Florence and five children, 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren: Barb, Tia, Elli; Jeep (Mary Anne), Anne, Jim, Mary (Andy); Dorothy (Barry), Faith (Ben) & Jasper, Dylan (Emily) & Milo, Wyatt; Paul (Karen), Tyler, Chelsie, Mackenzie (Travis) & Roslyn; Robin (Charlie), Tori. Elliot celebrated all members of his family in their numerous and varied endeavors. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and his sister. A funeral service honoring Elliot will be held at The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, located at 701 Westminster Road, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, 4pm. Dessert reception to follow. The service was live-streamed and can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUfWoxmcWNs. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (gtrlc.org) or Presbyterian Missions Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Rev. J Elliot Peirce Morrison

August 21, 1928 - September 21, 2024