Anne M. Morlan, 95, of Waldoboro, died at her home on May 29 with her Sheltie snuggled at her side and family with her.
Anne lived a life of achievement and service to others, quietly working to make the world a more equitable, beautiful and peaceful one.
Anne was born on May 14, 1919, in Detroit, Mich. to Martha and Dudley Matthews. In 1944, she graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, with a B. A. in Art. That same year, she married Robert L. Morlan in the university chapel.
Anne worked as an artist for Burlington Mills in North Carolina while her husband served in the Army Air Corps. Later, they moved to Minneapolis, Minn. where Robert (Bob) completed his Master’s degree and PhD. They moved to Redlands, Cal., in 1949, where Bob was a professor of political science at the University of Redlands until his death in 1985.
During her 38 years in Redlands, Anne raised her family, provided a second home to countless university students, and left a lasting legacy of service to her community. She was an active member of numerous organizations and served terms as president of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Redlands Branch; American Baptist Women; Church Women United; Redlands Art Association; Redlands Democratic Club; Redlands League of Women Voters; Redlands Junior High School and Clement Junior High School PTA; and University of Redlands Faculty Wives.
Anne also served on the YWCA Board and was active with the Redlands Human Relations Council; World Federalists of the U.S.A., Redlands Chapter; and the United Nations Association.
With a life-long interest in encouraging opportunity and achievement for girls, Anne was a dedicated Girl Scout leader for 39 years. She was not only a troop leader for many years, but was a leader trainer, camp counselor, San Gorgonio Council Board of Directors member and secretary, and a delegate to the National Council. Anne received the Girl Scout Thanks Badge in 1966-their highest honor.
Other awards and recognitions include: PTA Honorary Life Membership Award (1964); AAUW Redlands Branch Name Grant, a fellowship grant that carries the name of the honoree (1972); Woman of the Year (Soroptimist Club of Redlands, 1974); the Juliette Lowe Service Award for exceptional contributions to Girl Scouting (1984); and the University of Redlands Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award (1986).
Bob accepted lectureships in Europe on four different occasions, so Anne and Bob lived in The Netherlands three times and in Belgium for one year. During their time in The Netherlands in the late 1970s, Anne spent hours in art museum basements researching for her master’s thesis: Rembrandt’s Biblical interpretations: A study of his etchings, drawings, and paintings from the originals in The Netherlands. In 1981, she earned her Master of Liberal Studies in Art and Religion-at age 62-through the University of Redlands’ Alfred North Whitehead Center for Life-Long Learning.
In 1987, after the death of her husband, Anne moved to Maine to be near two of her three daughters. She settled into Tall Tree Farm in Waldoboro, where for 27 years she delighted in raising Bantam chickens and a few geese, spinning wool from daughter Sue’s sheep, painting watercolors, and picking blueberries in her meadow. Always, she had an older second- or third-home dog with her. Anne was especially pleased to provide permanent protection for 14 acres of her farm’s Medomak River shoreline, woods and pasture through a conservation easement to Medomak Valley Land Trust.
But Anne’s community and religious service was not done yet. Anne was an active member of the Waldoboro Women’s Club and the Broad Bay Congregational United Church of Christ. She also showed her artwork in various locations, and served the North Haven Island School as a volunteer art teacher for two years.
Remarkably, Anne decided to build upon her life-long commitment to religious education and began ministry studies at the Bangor Theological Seminary. Despite the 80-mile trip between home and Bangor, often on treacherous winter roads, Anne completed the requirements to become a Commissioned Minister in 1993 – at age 73. Anne was then commissioned by the Broad Bay Congregational United Church of Christ, the Lincoln Association and the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ. She served until her retirement in January 2004.
Family gathered in mid-May for her 95th birthday-including son Larry from Denmark.
Anne was predeceased by husband, Robert L. Morlan; sister, Lois Brinkman; and daughter, Shirley (Thesil) Anne Morlan.
Survivors include daughters, Susan Morlan and partner Sue West of Waldoboro, and Janet Morlan and husband Jim Good of Corvallis, Ore.; son, Larry Morlan and wife Susanne Morlan and grandchildren Kirse and Peter of Tisvildeleje, Denmark; like-a-daughter, longtime friend Joanna Jones of Waldoboro; a niece; and a nephew.
A celebration of Anne’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Sat., June 7 at the Broad Bay Congregational United Church of Christ in Waldoboro.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial donation in Anne’s name may consider Waldoboro Women’s Club noting “for scholarships,” c/o Marlotte Gulezian, 474 Back Cover Rd., Waldoboro, ME 04572; Medomak Valley Land Trust, P.O. Box 180, Waldoboro, ME 04572; Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556; or Broad Bay Congregational United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 161, Waldoboro, ME 04572.
You are invited to share your condolences, memories, and photos with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home, Waldoboro.
