Obituary of Gloria J. Morse

Gloria J. Morse Gloria Jean Morse, a lifelong resident of Hughsonville, entered into rest Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. She was 74. Daughter of the late Francis W. and Helen Stalter Phillips, she was born on April 29, 1934 in Hughsonville. She married the love of her life, Jason Morse on July 4, 1954; Mr. Morse survives at home in Hughsonville. Mrs. Morse attended school at the one room schoolhouse in Hughsonville, which presently stands as the Hughsonville Firehouse. She went on to graduate from what is now the Wappingers Junior High in 1951. In 1953, Gloria was instrumental in the re-opening of Hughsonville Presbyterian Church and was the original temporary Clerk of Session; she served in that capacity many times over the next several years. She also was a member of the church's Ladies Aide Society, a Sunday school teacher and youth director. In 1978, Mrs. Morse began working as a court clerk for the Town of Wappinger Justice Court. From 1984-1990, she served as Dutchess County Representative to the New York State Court Clerk's Association; she was elected President of the Association in 1986. In 1988, she was appointed director of New York State Magistrates Court Clerk's Association; in 1990 she was elected as the Association's third Vice President. In 1989, she became the first appointed Marriage Officer in the Town of Wappinger. She won a nomination for New York State Court Clerk of the Year in 1990 and was also elected Town Justice that year; she remained Town Justice until 2000. In the November 2000 election, Gloria was elected Town of Wappinger Clerk; she officially retired from the Town on May 30, 2005. In addition to her husband, Jason, survivors include her children, Cheryl Hait of Hughsonville, Jason Robert Morse of Hughsonville, and Cathy Lyn Chee of North Carolina; her brother, Francis Phillips, Jr. of Illinois; sisters, Katherine Hartnett of Wappingers Falls and Shirley Joyce of Hughsonville; grandchildren, Jennifer Propfe and her husband, Chris, Jessica Moss and her husband, Matthew, and Danielle Morse; great-grandchildren, Rebecca, Alan and Donald; and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sisters, Helen Palazzo and Ruth VanBuren, and her son-in-law, Donald Hait. Family will receive their friends on Thursday, July 17, 2008 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m. at the Hughsonville Presbyterian Church with Rev. Gail Burger officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot in Wappingers Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Gloria's name to the Hughsonville Presbyterian Church, PO Box 516, Hughsonville, NY 12537. For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.