Mrs. Violet Bryant Morse, 90, a resident of Cove’s Edge, Damariscotta passed away on Jan. 15.
Born in Newcastle on Sept. 11, 1919, she was the daughter of John Bryant and Edith Johnson Bryant. Violet attended local schools and graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1938. She played on the girl’s basketball team, which in 1938 won the state girl’s basketball title, the first such honor for Lincoln Academy. She was named one of the most valuable players of that team and was awarded a silver chain with a silver basketball inscribed “State Champs.” She was very proud of the honor and displayed the trophy and team picture for all to see. Violet remained close friends with the other team members throughout her life.
In 1940, she married K. Everett Morse. They lived in Damariscotta during their marriage. He predeceased her in December of 1986. She remained a resident of Damariscotta until she became a resident at the Lincoln Home in Newcastle for several years prior to moving to Cove’s Edge, Damariscotta.
Area residents and visitors remember “Vi”, as she liked to be called, as the friendly person behind the meat and deli counter at Damariscotta’s Yellowfront grocery store on Main Street, and later as bookkeeper at the new location on Rt. 1, where she worked for 56 years. Besides helping people with their orders, she also spent much time preparing fruit baskets for needy people during the holiday seasons. For many years, she handled the bookkeeping responsibilities for the store from her home before retiring in 2001.
She liked to joke around with family and friends. She had a reputation within the family of being able to put the smallest Christmas gift in a series of larger and larger boxes. One Christmas season, one of her nieces went through 15 boxes before finding a small novelty knick knack. One year, her teasing with the staff of the Reunion Station restaurant resulted in her being put on a “Wanted” poster which was hung on the entry door. Vi was always telling friends how much that poster meant to her.
Vi enjoyed traveling with her husband, sisters, and her nieces and their husbands, including trips to the Amish country in Pennsylvania, Cape Cod, Williamsburg, Va., Florida, as well as numerous places in New England. She had a knack for remembering every place she had visited and could tell what a room in a certain hotel looked like or what you could order to eat in a specific restaurant.
She also enjoyed spending time with her family, especially with her great-nephews and niece and their children. Vi kept a box of toys in her apartment which have been used by two generations of children; she could often be found sitting on the floor in the midst of a group of youngsters, playing right along with them. She also joked and teased with them.
She was predeceased by a brother, Amasa Bryant and sisters, Martha B. Trask and Edith B. West; half-sister, Mabel Bryant and half-brothers, John Bryant and Leland Bryant.
Vi is survived by nieces, Valerie Bryant of Damariscotta, Sally Cutting and husband Robert of Brockton, Mass., Nancy Ames and husband William of Jefferson, Ruth Tully and husband Charlie of Dunstable, Mass., Vera Coleman and husband Jim of Maynard, Mass., and Glena King of Chelmsford, Mass.; several additional nieces and nephews; several great-nephews, great-nieces, great-great nieces and nephews and several cousins.
Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Damariscotta, where a graveside service will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lincoln Home, 22 River Rd., Newcastle, ME 04543.
Condolences for the family may be expressed at www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
