Obituary for Ethelyn Berrier "Ethie" Morrison
Ethelyn (Ethie) Berrier Morrison, age 81, gently passed away at the Autumn Hills Alzheimer's
Special Care Center in Bloomington, Indiana on January 8, 2020.
Ethie was born, with her twin brother Erwin Jr., on July 29, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio to Erwin
and Louise Berrier. She graduated from Euclid High School, Euclid, Ohio, in 1956. Ethie
attended Ohio Wesleyan University for two years before transferring to Indiana University,
Bloomington, in 1958. Ethie was an active member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She
graduated from Indiana University in 1960 with a degree in zoology.
While at IU she met and fell in love with Richard (Dick) Morrison. They were married on
September 2, 1960. In the early years, Ethie and Dick lived in several Indiana communities
as Dick pursued his career in education. Ethie spent that time caring for their two young
children, son, James (Jim), born September 1961 and daughter Dawn, born December 1962.
She was a devoted and loving wife and mother.
Ethie attended Butler University in 1967 and earned her secondary science teaching
credentials. Her career as an educator lasted over 30 years. During her career, Ethie taught
biology, earth science, AP biology and finally a course in marine science that she authored.
Ethie and Dick moved frequently as they pursued their professional goals. Ethie taught in
Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana and South Carolina. A lifelong student, Ethie earned
her Masters degree in biology from Ball State University in 1988. She was a dedicated
educator who devoted herself to sharing her great love of science with her students.
Following her retirement in 1999 from Beaufort High School, Beaufort, SC, Ethie pursued her
passion for genealogy. Ethie and DIck crisscrossed the country in a Winnebago conducting
extensive research on both the Morrison and Berrier families.
Ethie rediscovered her love of painting late in life. Ethie began to attend painting classes and
seminars in 2001 and became a prolific watercolor artist. She was a leading member of the
Beaufort, SC, Area Art Guild. Her beautiful landscapes, seascapes and wildlife paintings
became popular at local art shows and galleries.
Ethie was very active in the Fripp Island Friends of Music organization. Through her
leadership the Friends of Music brought nationally known musicians to perform concerts and
recitals for the Fripp Island, SC, community.
Throughout her life, Ethie enjoyed hosting gatherings of family and friends. She was an avid
gardener. She read voraciously and stayed interested in national affairs throughout her life.
Ethie and Dick moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 2014.
Ethie is preceded in death by her parents, Erwin Franklin and Louise Weibley Berrier and her
twin brother Erwin (Bud) Franklin Berrier Jr.
She is survived by her husband, Richard William Morrison, son, James Erwin Morrison,
daughter, Dawn Morrison Graves, grandchildren Johnathan Morrison, Adam Graves and
Clara Graves, sister-in-law Ellen Berrier as well as 14 nieces and nephews and their children.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the caring, kind and professional staff at
the Autumn Hills Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, the Alzheimer’s Resource Service with IU
Health Bloomington and Southern Care Hospice of Bloomington. You brought comfort and
dignity to Ethie’s last years.
Memorial services are pending at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard. Interment will be at Elm Ridge Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana.
Special Care Center in Bloomington, Indiana on January 8, 2020.
Ethie was born, with her twin brother Erwin Jr., on July 29, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio to Erwin
and Louise Berrier. She graduated from Euclid High School, Euclid, Ohio, in 1956. Ethie
attended Ohio Wesleyan University for two years before transferring to Indiana University,
Bloomington, in 1958. Ethie was an active member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She
graduated from Indiana University in 1960 with a degree in zoology.
While at IU she met and fell in love with Richard (Dick) Morrison. They were married on
September 2, 1960. In the early years, Ethie and Dick lived in several Indiana communities
as Dick pursued his career in education. Ethie spent that time caring for their two young
children, son, James (Jim), born September 1961 and daughter Dawn, born December 1962.
She was a devoted and loving wife and mother.
Ethie attended Butler University in 1967 and earned her secondary science teaching
credentials. Her career as an educator lasted over 30 years. During her career, Ethie taught
biology, earth science, AP biology and finally a course in marine science that she authored.
Ethie and Dick moved frequently as they pursued their professional goals. Ethie taught in
Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana and South Carolina. A lifelong student, Ethie earned
her Masters degree in biology from Ball State University in 1988. She was a dedicated
educator who devoted herself to sharing her great love of science with her students.
Following her retirement in 1999 from Beaufort High School, Beaufort, SC, Ethie pursued her
passion for genealogy. Ethie and DIck crisscrossed the country in a Winnebago conducting
extensive research on both the Morrison and Berrier families.
Ethie rediscovered her love of painting late in life. Ethie began to attend painting classes and
seminars in 2001 and became a prolific watercolor artist. She was a leading member of the
Beaufort, SC, Area Art Guild. Her beautiful landscapes, seascapes and wildlife paintings
became popular at local art shows and galleries.
Ethie was very active in the Fripp Island Friends of Music organization. Through her
leadership the Friends of Music brought nationally known musicians to perform concerts and
recitals for the Fripp Island, SC, community.
Throughout her life, Ethie enjoyed hosting gatherings of family and friends. She was an avid
gardener. She read voraciously and stayed interested in national affairs throughout her life.
Ethie and Dick moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 2014.
Ethie is preceded in death by her parents, Erwin Franklin and Louise Weibley Berrier and her
twin brother Erwin (Bud) Franklin Berrier Jr.
She is survived by her husband, Richard William Morrison, son, James Erwin Morrison,
daughter, Dawn Morrison Graves, grandchildren Johnathan Morrison, Adam Graves and
Clara Graves, sister-in-law Ellen Berrier as well as 14 nieces and nephews and their children.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the caring, kind and professional staff at
the Autumn Hills Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, the Alzheimer’s Resource Service with IU
Health Bloomington and Southern Care Hospice of Bloomington. You brought comfort and
dignity to Ethie’s last years.
Memorial services are pending at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard. Interment will be at Elm Ridge Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana.