April 17, 2017

George MorseSadly today...
George Morse has passed away.

 

The Living Legend

George Morse, Herb Anderson and a Red-Dot Maxfli were the unfolding drama. The first, sudden death, AAGA City Open between former City Open Champion Herb Anderson of Highland Country Club and George Morse of Heather Hill Country Club was underway.

It was the 1964 City Open, Sunday, final round at Norton Country Club; my first brush with the open. Chasing, like the others in the gallery, two men dueling for a championship. These men, and what they did, was inspirational.

Over three holes, dead-even, and the match to be decided in the descending light of the 4th green. I was kneeling down on a grade that gave me knee high vision to the unfolding tragedy.

The moment played in slow motion under the towering trees, as his foe faced the action with a small cigar wedged in the side of his mouth.

One was in for par. One was not.

Behind, a backdrop of silent twilight – he was so close, I could hear him breathe, his metal spikes piquing the bent grass, and his cracking bones recording the placement of a Red Dot Maxfli on his mark.

He lined his putt (no more than 3 feet), practiced a stroke, adjusted his feet to the ball, paused, and then rolled the Red-Dot Maxfli wide.

The air went out of me, and perhaps all of the 50 or so who had followed the sudden death play. I felt as though I had missed the putt. I did not hear the moans of the crowd that followed the miss. That moment was frozen in silent time – Morse's Red-Dot Maxfli had rolled wide.

I was as sad as one can be for another, but the Living Legend was born.


From the Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA on April 20, 2017

George Elmer Morse passed away peacefully in his home on April 17th, 2017, holding the hand of his devoted, faithful, and beloved wife, of 58 years, Elizabeth Morse.

George was born on April 21, 1935 in Wrentham to the late Elmer and Bertha Morse of Dennis and grew up with his late sister Dolly Morse Noonan of North Attleboro and his late brother Frederick Morse of Florida.

George was an eight-year United States Air Force veteran and served four of those years in the Korean War. George was a correctional officer and firearms instructor for Walpole State Prison for 32 years.

George and Beth were married on Oct. 4, 1958, and settled in North Attleboro.

He will be remembered fondly and missed greatly by his four children: Peter Morse and his wife Kelly Morse of Norton, Robert Morse of North Attleboro, Robyn Morse-Gianatasio and her fiance Robert Roberio of Attleboro and Christian Morse and his wife Wendy Morse of Cumberland.

George spent a great part of his life surrounded by his 10 grandchildren, Richard, Sara, Emily, Tiffany, Susan, Samuel, Ashley, Kyle, Dorien, and Alyssa, and later his seven great grandchildren, Jeremiah, Jaelynn, Troy, Lillianna, Jisiah, Gabriella, and Gavin.

In his later years, George would sit back quietly and admire the spectacular family he created with his life partner. Although one of George's favorite hobbies was fishing, he was an avid golfer, and will always be remembered throughout his golf community as the "Living Legend", he was even inducted into the Attleboro Golf Hall of fame. His family will never forget the sock tan lines on his ankles from squeezing in 9 holes before family gatherings.

Regardless of how he was feeling, George never missed an opportunity to put everyone, young and old, to shame on the dance floor. Visiting hours for our Legend George will be held on what would have been his 82nd birthday, Friday, April 21, 2017, at the Ross Funeral Home in Wrentham from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.