Margaret Frances Sinclair Morris, 82, of Keokuk, formerly of Galesburg, IL., died at home Tuesday afternoon.
Morris was a long-time employee of the Galesburg Public Library, where she began working in December, 1943. She was appointed librarian on May 2, 1963, and retired in 1973.
Morris was one of the individuals responsible for restoration of Galesburg's library facilities after fire destroyed them May 9, 1958. Flames destroyed innumerable historic treasures dating back to the time of Abraham Lincoln. A cataloguer at the time, she later recalled the fire as "the most tragic thing I have ever witnessed."
The old library building at 40 E. Simmons St., was replaced by a new structure in 1961, and two years after that, she became librarian.
Willabell Williams, Galesburg, worked with Morris at the library and later was a member of the library board during Morris' tenure as head librarian. "She was a pretty special lady," Williams recalled.
"I remember her from when I was in high school. She always made you feel so welcome when you came to the library. You had to be very quiet in the library then but if you went back in the stacks to look for a book and she was nearby, she would always start a conversation with you. She was a very efficient, very warm person," Williams said.
She was born in Pontiac, IL., March 5, 1908, the daughter of Robert Gordon (R.G.) and Maude Thompson Sinclair. She married Warren Mac Morris in Galesburg on August 15, 1951. He died December 17, 1982. Warren Morris was librarian at Knox College until he retired in 1972. The couple moved to Keokuk in 1976.
Surviving are her daughter, Ann Maltby Harshbarger, and her son-in-law, Allan Harshbarger, both from Keokuk, two sisters-in-law, Lee Steinfeldt, Peoria, IL., Lucille Sinclair, Westlake, Ohio; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1925 and attended Francis Shimer School from 1925 through 1927. She graduated from Knox College in 1929.
She was a member of First Christian Church and Chapter LZ, P.E.O., in Keokuk, and of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. In Galesburg, she was a member of First United Presbyterian Church, Chapter W, P.E.O., and Altrusa Club.
Funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. in DeJong's Funeral Home, Keokuk, with the Revs. William S. Mitchell and Douglas Lofton officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday after 3 p.m.; the family will meet friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in the Keokuk National Cemetery.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
Morris was a long-time employee of the Galesburg Public Library, where she began working in December, 1943. She was appointed librarian on May 2, 1963, and retired in 1973.
Morris was one of the individuals responsible for restoration of Galesburg's library facilities after fire destroyed them May 9, 1958. Flames destroyed innumerable historic treasures dating back to the time of Abraham Lincoln. A cataloguer at the time, she later recalled the fire as "the most tragic thing I have ever witnessed."
The old library building at 40 E. Simmons St., was replaced by a new structure in 1961, and two years after that, she became librarian.
Willabell Williams, Galesburg, worked with Morris at the library and later was a member of the library board during Morris' tenure as head librarian. "She was a pretty special lady," Williams recalled.
"I remember her from when I was in high school. She always made you feel so welcome when you came to the library. You had to be very quiet in the library then but if you went back in the stacks to look for a book and she was nearby, she would always start a conversation with you. She was a very efficient, very warm person," Williams said.
She was born in Pontiac, IL., March 5, 1908, the daughter of Robert Gordon (R.G.) and Maude Thompson Sinclair. She married Warren Mac Morris in Galesburg on August 15, 1951. He died December 17, 1982. Warren Morris was librarian at Knox College until he retired in 1972. The couple moved to Keokuk in 1976.
Surviving are her daughter, Ann Maltby Harshbarger, and her son-in-law, Allan Harshbarger, both from Keokuk, two sisters-in-law, Lee Steinfeldt, Peoria, IL., Lucille Sinclair, Westlake, Ohio; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1925 and attended Francis Shimer School from 1925 through 1927. She graduated from Knox College in 1929.
She was a member of First Christian Church and Chapter LZ, P.E.O., in Keokuk, and of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. In Galesburg, she was a member of First United Presbyterian Church, Chapter W, P.E.O., and Altrusa Club.
Funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. in DeJong's Funeral Home, Keokuk, with the Revs. William S. Mitchell and Douglas Lofton officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday after 3 p.m.; the family will meet friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in the Keokuk National Cemetery.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
Margaret Frances Sinclair Morris, 82, of Keokuk, formerly of Galesburg, IL., died at home Tuesday afternoon.
Morris was a long-time employee of the Galesburg Public Library, where she began working in December, 1943. She was appointed librarian on May 2, 1963, and retired in 1973.
Morris was one of the individuals responsible for restoration of Galesburg's library facilities after fire destroyed them May 9, 1958. Flames destroyed innumerable historic treasures dating back to the time of Abraham Lincoln. A cataloguer at the time, she later recalled the fire as "the most tragic thing I have ever witnessed."
The old library building at 40 E. Simmons St., was replaced by a new structure in 1961, and two years after that, she became librarian.
Willabell Williams, Galesburg, worked with Morris at the library and later was a member of the library board during Morris' tenure as head librarian. "She was a pretty special lady," Williams recalled.
"I remember her from when I was in high school. She always made you feel so welcome when you came to the library. You had to be very quiet in the library then but if you went back in the stacks to look for a book and she was nearby, she would always start a conversation with you. She was a very efficient, very warm person," Williams said.
She was born in Pontiac, IL., March 5, 1908, the daughter of Robert Gordon (R.G.) and Maude Thompson Sinclair. She married Warren Mac Morris in Galesburg on August 15, 1951. He died December 17, 1982. Warren Morris was librarian at Knox College until he retired in 1972. The couple moved to Keokuk in 1976.
Surviving are her daughter, Ann Maltby Harshbarger, and her son-in-law, Allan Harshbarger, both from Keokuk, two sisters-in-law, Lee Steinfeldt, Peoria, IL., Lucille Sinclair, Westlake, Ohio; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1925 and attended Francis Shimer School from 1925 through 1927. She graduated from Knox College in 1929.
She was a member of First Christian Church and Chapter LZ, P.E.O., in Keokuk, and of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. In Galesburg, she was a member of First United Presbyterian Church, Chapter W, P.E.O., and Altrusa Club.
Funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. in DeJong's Funeral Home, Keokuk, with the Revs. William S. Mitchell and Douglas Lofton officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday after 3 p.m.; the family will meet friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in the Keokuk National Cemetery.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
Morris was a long-time employee of the Galesburg Public Library, where she began working in December, 1943. She was appointed librarian on May 2, 1963, and retired in 1973.
Morris was one of the individuals responsible for restoration of Galesburg's library facilities after fire destroyed them May 9, 1958. Flames destroyed innumerable historic treasures dating back to the time of Abraham Lincoln. A cataloguer at the time, she later recalled the fire as "the most tragic thing I have ever witnessed."
The old library building at 40 E. Simmons St., was replaced by a new structure in 1961, and two years after that, she became librarian.
Willabell Williams, Galesburg, worked with Morris at the library and later was a member of the library board during Morris' tenure as head librarian. "She was a pretty special lady," Williams recalled.
"I remember her from when I was in high school. She always made you feel so welcome when you came to the library. You had to be very quiet in the library then but if you went back in the stacks to look for a book and she was nearby, she would always start a conversation with you. She was a very efficient, very warm person," Williams said.
She was born in Pontiac, IL., March 5, 1908, the daughter of Robert Gordon (R.G.) and Maude Thompson Sinclair. She married Warren Mac Morris in Galesburg on August 15, 1951. He died December 17, 1982. Warren Morris was librarian at Knox College until he retired in 1972. The couple moved to Keokuk in 1976.
Surviving are her daughter, Ann Maltby Harshbarger, and her son-in-law, Allan Harshbarger, both from Keokuk, two sisters-in-law, Lee Steinfeldt, Peoria, IL., Lucille Sinclair, Westlake, Ohio; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1925 and attended Francis Shimer School from 1925 through 1927. She graduated from Knox College in 1929.
She was a member of First Christian Church and Chapter LZ, P.E.O., in Keokuk, and of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. In Galesburg, she was a member of First United Presbyterian Church, Chapter W, P.E.O., and Altrusa Club.
Funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. in DeJong's Funeral Home, Keokuk, with the Revs. William S. Mitchell and Douglas Lofton officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday after 3 p.m.; the family will meet friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in the Keokuk National Cemetery.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
