SANBORNTON ---- Starlin Andrew Morrison, 98, died in his Sanbornton, NH home on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at 8:11 am, with his loving wife Helen, his children, Shannon, Julie, Marcia, Gerry, Ralph, Tom and Sarah and his grandsons McKay and Leighton, surrounding him to the end.
Starlin was born at home in Sanbornton to his mother Etta Mae (Smith) Morrison Keyser and raised by his loving grandparents, Adelbert Andrew and Caroline Ella (Huckins) Smith.
He was married for 68 years to his first love, his wife Nancy Rebecca Wallis on October 16, 1948. To this union were born eight children, the ones listed above, plus Scott, who died in 2019, and their love endured and increased throughout all the trials and triumphant joys that they shared in this life.
After Nancy’s death in 2017, he was fortunate to find love and companionship again, marrying (eloping no less) Helen Jeanette (Zerbe) Witbeck on August 13, 2020, when he was 94. They shared adventures, travels, love, laughter and the occasional sporadic galivanting together until his death, and his life was by far richer and more rewarding because of their love and her gifts that she gave to him.
He loved his large family immensely. He was the oldest of 8 siblings on his Morrison side and 6 on his Keyser side. He had eight children, 34 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren and had many nieces and nephews, as well as many others who looked to him as a father figure.
The best way to describe Starlin is through the words of his loved ones and friends, said throughout the many years of his life: “This is my grandfather, Starlin Morrison”, “There is no way to describe the love that I have for this impatient, grumpy, loving old man!” But we will try;
“Still a farmer to his core,” “If you ever visited our farm, you were not a visitor but became family.” “He has an unmatched work ethic.” “He is an amazing example of hard work, dedication, determination, hanging in there when things get tough, etc.” “He loved fishing. From casting the line to filleting and frying-we were mentored all the way.” “Enjoy endless squash gardens up there, Papa.” “I would go out to their farm and Starlin would have me ride the horses, very near-death experiences in this, as I went out helping to bring home cows that had gotten loose.” “He has passed on the much wisdom that he gained from his grandparents. He quotes them all the time when teaching his posterity the most important life lessons. My favorite is, you can waste your life away waiting for it to rain. I was trying to put off planting because it looked like rain. My Dad and I started early and finished before the rain started. Life lesson learned.” “He was full of life and was active right up to 3 days before he passed out doing his work in his garden.” “The ever-ready bunny, he keeps going and going and going.” “He was one man that could keep every one of us moving and on our toes doing projects.” His words, “Do a job, big of small, do it well, or not at all...” “And not at all was never not an option!” The last words he said to my children were that, “Work was the key to a long life, but more than work ... the real key to his long life was LOVE!”
“You will always have the most special place in my heart.” “Nobody else like Grampa, for sure.” “I loved his stories he tells about his life experiences.” “So fun listening to what he remembers as we drive by sites on this side of Sanbornton his old stomping grounds growing up. Stories about the pond, rabbit hunting up that road, logging on that mountain... love listening to them! I love how he giggles and laughs as he relives them.” “Dad was a master storyteller!”
“I will always remember him at the basketball games cheering on the guys.” “He was one of Winnisquam’s biggest fans going to games for 50+ years as he cheered on many ...and saw his children, grandchildren, great, and great-greats in all their activities!!!” “Didn’t miss a single match. No wonder these girls were undefeated. Grandpa must be their good luck charm!” “He sure loved watching the Celtic games with his kids and grandkids, especially when they won!” “He was a great man and he even came to watch me in high school wrestling. He was a pillar of the Morrison family.”
“Fine Specimen of a Saintly man.” “A man of quiet, strong faith that is leading our family well. I so grateful for the knowledge of the eternal nature of famines.” “I love this faithful man who, at 92, still drives himself to church every Sunday with cane and scriptures in hand. May I follow all the righteous examples that he has shown me. The world needs more like this.” “He hasn’t lived life perfectly, but perfectly lives life... He doesn’t have a lot of money, but he is Rich. He doesn’t have a lot of patience, but he endures it well. He has sinned and fallen off the path, worked his way back and set an example to his family of asking forgiveness and also forgiving others. His heart is full of love, his desires are true, he always does the very best he can.” “I love you for the perfect example you have given me of a true and righteous Father who I undoubtedly know that he loves Me!” “He loves his Wife. He loves his children. He loves his grandchildren. He loves his great-grandchildren. He loves his great-great grandchildren!!!! AND THEY LOVE HIM!!! That is all you could ever hope for!” “He gave me a good thumping on my head when I needed it. He was my father figure when I didn’t have one and needed one badly. He simply loved me enough to tell me to straighten out.”
“A truly great man who will be missed by so many people his influence touched.” “To say he was important in my life would be an understatement. He was one of the first people I met in the LDS church. More than anything, he loved me. Before I was visiting with the missionaries, Starlin was encouraging me. When I was baptized, Starlin baptized me. Starlin would have us read to him from books written by church leaders. Some of my greatest and most impactful moments were from assignments Starlin gave me. He was such a blessing in my life. A light has left the world. I will miss him.”
“Still as determined as he ever has been!” “He has a wonderful sense of humor, joking and tricking the nurses and aides, pretending to get really wobbly with a walker. Then when the aide got really worried, he laughed and said it's just to make sure they're paying attention.” “He's an impy kid at heart. We think we're going to call him "Super Grampa!” “My Dad is styling in his flannel lined jeans, suspenders, and hospital johnny. Mini stroke and all, he has everyone laughing when they see him. Such a character!” “After Nancy’s funeral, he said, "First thing I did, I gave away all the broccoli." “A wonderful sense of humor.” Grampa: "I've never had shrimp before." Me: "Well, you're almost 92, time's running out.” Grampa: "Alright, I'm doing it. Shrimp it is." “It wasn't his favorite.” “Grampa Wahm: 90 years old and still riding his moped like a boss.” “He and I liked each other a lot. One of my dearest memories was once when we were getting set to go to some kind of get-together with friends and he said to me, with great enthusiasm, "I LIKE having fun!" “I will always remember his beautiful smile and infectious laugh. A man that loved life and anyone that came into it.”
“Today I told him I’d be over tomorrow with a gift and he said to me, “I don’t need anything... I go to the dump all the time.” “My Dad likes to shop from the “Dump Store” because as he says, “They have a great return policy.” “I started to understand why he insisted on saving and salvaging things that could still be good with a little mending. It’s good to hear the wisdom of a near century.”
“He tried to keep up with all of the many technology changes, to varying degrees of success” “When all of a sudden you have a video chat coming through from your 91yr old Grandfather ...hello...hello...I don't know what I'm doing...I'm playing with my tablet... hello… I'm new to Facebook and slow to catch on. Yes, I can hear you...I'm playing with my tablet" “LOL. Then he went away.” “I received a GIF on messenger from him...I was afraid to open it because I thought he may have been hacked. I knew he didn't know how to do that. Come to find out he had been playing with his tablet and accidently sent a Pooh Bear swinging on the top of a tree. He said that he was trying to get pooh to touch the clouds by touching the picture. We laughed about that one.” “Grampa talking about using the microwave.” "I've got all these machines and I don't know how to work them. I need someone to cook for me. Then I won't starve and it'll be ok."
Found on his own Facebook post: “When you are lonely, I wish you love. When you are down, I wish you joy. When you are troubled, I wish you peace. When things are complicated, I wish you simple beauty. When things look empty, I wish you hope. But above all, I pray that God will bless you. You are very special”.
May we reflect on his life, and, hopefully, become a little more like him as we age!
“Good Grief, love ya, Gramps” “I love you Grampa Wahm!” “I love you Dad” “Love you Papa Bear” and from his wife, “I love you, Sweetheart. Till we meet again.” “So glad families are forever.” “Rest in peace, Dad.” “You have waited a long time for this.”
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 3:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1242 Old Main Street in Laconia, NH. Please come with stories to share with us after the funeral as we would love to hear them.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.