July 17, 1921 – September 11, 2012
Esther Griffen Miller Morris, 91, died September 11, 2012, at Kendal at Hanover (NH). During a long and happy life she contributed to her community wherever she lived, pursuing her interests in education and art. She and her husband Mark M. Morris moved to Kendal at Hanover in 2003 from their home in Santa Barbara, CA. where they lived for 17 years.
Esther attended George School in Newtown, PA, and the University of Chicago, completing her graduate work in Whittier, CA, where she and her family lived for many years before moving to Santa Barbara. They had three children: Linda Lamb Morris Mitchell, of Lower Waterford, VT; Macy Mark Morris, of Oceanside, CA; and Alan Miller Morris of Cottonwood Heights, UT.
While in Whittier, CA, Esther taught school for several years and was a member of First Friends Church, volunteer for Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, hosted exchange students from Brazil and from Thailand. She was a member of P.E.O., President of the Family Service Board of Whittier, and a Board member of the Whittier Friends School. She traveled extensively in the U.S. and in Asia, Europe, and Latin American with her husband who worked in the aerospace industry.
After moving to Santa Barbara, CA in 1986, Esther continued her membership in P.E.O., was a member of the Santa Barbara Symphony League for more than 10 years, a docent at the Santa Barbara Art Museum from 1988 to 1998, and President of the Docent Council in 1994-95. She was Docent of the year in 1997.
In addition to her three children she is survived by two brothers, Robert Duff Miller and Clark Thompson Miller and a sister Mariana Miller as well as grandchildren, great grandchildren and an extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her husband, Mark Morris, with whom she spent 60 years of happy married life, died at Kendal in 2005. She was also predeceased by two brothers, Wyatt Wistar Miller and Edward Macomb Miller.
Esther was honored and remembered at a Memorial Service at Kendal in October. There will be a Celebration of Life June 22 at the Prairie Club in Michigan and a Memorial Service in Indiana June 29. Memorial gifts may be made to George School, Hanover Friends Meeting, or to the Santa Barbara Symphony League.
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