Lucile Zimmer Morse
March 19, 1902-Nov. 1, 2003
Mrs. Lucile (Housh) Zimmer Morse, 101, of Colony Court, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, 2003 in Riveridge Manor, Niles.
She was born on March 19, 1902, in Oskaloosa, Kan., to Frank Charles and Daisy (Tedrick) Housh, the owners of the local general store. She graduated from high school and junior college in Kansas City, Kan., and attended the University of Kansas, Lawrence.
On Dec. 1, 1928, in Kansas City, she was married to Henry W. "Heine" Zimmer. Mr. Zimmer came with his bride to Niles to work as an accountant for fellow University of Illinois alumnus Mr. Lawrence Plym at the Kawneer Company after it had moved from its founding "near the Kaw" River, Kansas. Mr. Zimmer served many years as executive vice president and chairman of Kawneer, and preceded Lucile in death on May 20, 1962.
During most of this time Mr. and Mrs. Zimmer lived in the former Kimmel Mansion at Topinabee and Chicago roads. That property is also the home of the gazebo from Castle Rest, which Pawating Hospital needed to remove as the hospital expanded beyond the walls of that mansion. Mrs. Zimmer was proud to have rescued the gazebo, which added to the family's frequent entertaining of family and friends.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, and was the last founding member of the Niles Service League and her Bridge Club. She and her husband were also founding members of Fernwood Botanic Garden, the Signal Point Club, and the former Pickwick Club, and she was a member of the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary and the Niles Garden Club. In all of these memberships she chose to be quite active and volunteered many hours.
She was a summer resident of Walloon Lake, Mich., where she was a member of the Walloon Lake Association. She was an avid reader, and was known for her loving spirit which she shared with all.
On April 29, 1967, at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana), she was married to Franklin A. Morse, who preceded her in death in 1973. In addition to her two husbands, she was also preceded in death by a son, David Housh Zimmer; her sister, Margaret "Peg" Hayward; and by a brother, Tedrick Housh.
She is survived by her sons, H. Tedrick Zimmer of Naples, Fla., John W. (Sally) Zimmer of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Charles F. (Gail) Zimmer of Jacksonville, Fla.; stepsons, Charles (Lynn) Morse of South Bend, Ind., and Steve Morse of Suttons Bay, Mich.; a stepdaughter, Kitty Duncan of La Veta, Colo.; eight grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; and by a sister, Emmy Lou Sears of Kansas City.
Services for Mrs. Lucile H. Zimmer Morse will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, in the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of the church officiating. A reception will follow at the Signal Point Club, Niles. The family will gather at a private time for committal services at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Contributions in memory of Mrs. Lucile Zimmer Morse may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church, to Fernwood Botanic Garden, or to the Walloon Lake Association.
Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown