Donald M. Morse of Berthoud, Colorado, died at TRU Community Care Hospice in Louisville on August 30, 2014. He was 74.
Donald was born on April 10, 1940 in Boulder, Colorado, to Marvin and Maxine Lavone (Barber) Morse. He grew up on Sugarloaf, outside of Nederland, and graduated from Nederland High School in 1958. He joined the United States Army in 1960 and served in Germany and the U.S. until 1965.
Donald married Patricia Minister in February of 1969 in Nederland. He began his civilian career as Chief of the Sheriff Reserves for Boulder County, then worked for Ray Allen Scientific Glass and Storage Technology Corporation, and finished his career as a Public Works Manager for Boulder County.
Donald was active in his community as a member of the Lions Club and played recreational basketball and volleyball well into his 40s. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and digging for fossils. He had an amazing creative side which included glass blowing, photography, landscaping, and creating many HO model train layouts, in which he painstakingly made his own trees, shrubs and grasses.
In his lifetime he built two custom homes in Nederland and was known for gladly lending a hand and his expertise to anyone in need. Donald’s talents included playing the guitar and harmonica, gardening, teaching his daughter how to play basketball, having the courage to teach four girls to drive, and a never-ending abundance of jokes and stories. In the rare down time he had he enjoyed reading about history, watching western movies, and collecting antiques.
Donald was an extremely loving and proud husband, father, and grandfather. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, William Morse, and a sister, Marveen Morse. He is survived by his wife Patricia; a step-son David May of Evans, Colorado; four daughters: Tamara Morse and Eric Hill of Kersey, Colorado; Michele Morse-Walter and Gregory Walter of Erie, Colorado; Christina Audrey and husband Jeff of Dusseldorf, Germany; and Andrea Anderson-Mann of Mead, Colorado.
He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Felicia May-Rodriguez, Lucretia May, Natasha May, Caden Walter, Hailey Walter, Sienna Audrey, Logan Audrey, Kylie Anderson, Dalton Mann and Donovan Mann. He is also survived by a step-brother, David Foster and wife Renate of Idaho.
A celebration of Donald’s life was held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 7 at Howe Mortuary. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Howe Mortuary and Cremation Services.
