Stephen Cameron Morrish

Morrish, Steve Cameron
Died on Sunday, July 01st, 2007.


Morrish, Steve Cameron - Passed away suddenly at his home in Ida on Sunday July 1st, 2007 in his 51st year. Partner and best friend to Brenda Ogle. Stepdad to Cameron, Colin and Crystal. Steve is son to William and the late Irene Morrish of Ida , brother of Janet (Steve) Peters of Keswick, Shirley (Brian) Burkholder of Uxbridge, Pam (Gord) Campbell of Whitby and uncle to many nieces and nephews. Steve was known for his passion for muscle cars, fine woodworking and his acute eye for detail. Always known as the perfectionist, ever caring, ever giving. Steve will be truly missed by his many friends and family.

Some Fond Memories from Carol

Stephen and my friendship is rooted in many happy years together as children, sharing mutual friends, exploits and adventures right up until our mid teens. The Morrish house, store and 'barn'., the Armstrong property - the house, barn, woodlot, ponds & fields all offered a source of entertainment and resources for our "projects". With Bill's help we built a raft and transported it to the Armstrong pond for many happy hours on the water, we constructed a cage for a pigeon we caught and trekked all of the way to the sand banks south of the Whitevale Golf Club to find a suitable perch (unfortunately the pigeon wasn't very happy, and made it known, so eventually when it became clear that it wouldn't be tamed we let it go.) Stephen loved vehicles - he started small - a John Deere lawn tractor and quickly graduated to a mini bike, a snowmobile and then a 'real' bike, all of which he happily shared with me. This meant that our boundaries for adventure were vastly widened. From skating on frozen fields of ice resulting from the mid winter thaw to building tree & hay forts with my brother Jim, sledding on Tod's hill and camping out in tents in the Morrish back yard with Janet, life was good, and our childhood was filled with each other's company. Steve was always up for fun and adventure. I recall an attempt at approximately age 9 at flying dwon the barn stairs using a metal 'flying saucer' intended for snow (he didn't hurt himself, but he of course he didn't fly, either), to harmless teasing of the newly formed Durham Police force who were bent on getting rid of the 'young rascals on dirt bikes'. All of these and many more escapades culminated in an infectious laugh that was his alone.

For several years, the Bill and Irene kindly and generously shared a place in their home and family with me, and in this sense, Steve was like a brother. His motorcycle became our mode of tansportation to school, and we would arrive just in time for the bell. Mutual 'spares' were occasionally spent at the pool hall with friends. We were always back on time, and it was from Steve and Fred that I learned what little I know about engines, as the travel time and lunch hour were always filled with 'car' talk and after hours with puttering on one bike engine or another.

In more recent years I have appreciated Steve's humourous emails, and updates on familhy and community. His perseverance in overcoming personal challenges and incredible loss, yet still being able to laugh that laugh, are a testament to the depth of his being. My life is richer from him having been a part of it, as are the lives of many. Good bye my dear friend - till we meet again on snowy trails and in greener pastures.

Love Always
Carol Wildgoose (Armstrong)

This is a picture of his vintage ``MORRIS MINOR" car. Stephen liked cars, particularly vintage cars. This is one of the original Morris minors which he imported from England and rehabilitated it to it's original condition.

Steven passed away quite suddenly from an apparent heart attack brought on prematurely because of his accident when he was 19 years of age. He was 50 last december.
I have shown below a letter which Steven wrote to the editor of one of the Toronto newspapers. We saved the letter because it has always been a source of encouragement for us . Jocelyn Lovell was a distinguished canadian cyclist who was badly injured in a cycling accident when struck by an automobile.
This was typical Steven--always the one to take responsibilty and recognize that he was the person that would lead the way to help himself . This attitude was the force that helped more than anything for his many accomplishments.--- His working successes,his workshop, his fine carpentry work, his house and gardens that we all dream about, his sense of humour and his friendliness. These are some of the things we will always remember about Steven.

With love Bob

Memories and tributes given by Heather and Jim Jackson at the church service for Steve.