Obituaries

Dr. Richard “Doc” Morrison, 78, died Sunday November 23, surrounded by his family at the Ball Hospice House in Sault Ste Marie. He was proudly born in Pickford, Michigan in October 1947 to Webster and Kathryn Morrison at the Hol Haven Farm.

He is survived by his wife Sarah, sons Daniel (Hilary), Carl, and Paul, grandsons Finlay and Robin, and
siblings Carol, Dave (Dianne), John (Cathy), Don (Marcela), and Roger.

Despite polio in infancy, he refused to let anything hold him back. His unique, happy, helpful
cheerfulness was the expression of a determined positivity and a heart free of malice and complaint.
Richard grew up on Dewey Street in Pickford, among the many other children with whom he would
become lifelong friends. He was frequently on his bike, baseball glove in hand, always ready to play ball.

His very first job was selling worms for bait. He attended Pickford Schools where he pole vaulted, played baseball, and was proud to be on the basketball team that made it to the Michigan State Championship.

He graduated from Pickford High School as valedictorian in 1965 and then attended Michigan State University, working at the Soo Creamery during the summers. He graduated with a B.S in Science with Honor and a Master of Arts for Education in Physics in 1970.

He spent the next four years teaching science and math at Flint Bentley High School where he helped
form and coach their first hockey team, the Bentley Bulldogs. He also played for the Mt. Morris Sports
Barn, in the Slo-Puck league where he was known as “Hat-Trick Dick.” During this time in Flint, he
bought a pair of three-wheeled golf carts to introduce rentals to Pickford’s Munoscong Golf Club.
After losing a tooth in one of his hockey games, his dentist suggested applying to dental school.

He returned to Pickford to complete some prerequisites at LSSC (now LSSU) and worked in bookkeeping at O’Connor’s auto dealership. He was accepted to the University of Michigan Dental School in 1976.

During those summers, he worked doing fluoride treatments for the U.P., painting at the Cedarville
Quarry, and serving at the University of Michigan Dental Clinic.

While in Ann Arbor, Dick was encouraged by a classmate to join the University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s theatrical production of Princess Ida, where he met his future wife, Sarah in what he
once referred to as a “backstage romance.” They married in 1980 in Ann Arbor.

He returned to Pickford to practice Dentistry in 1980. The famous Singing Dentist of Pickford served the
community far and wide from his practice on Main Street in his beloved hometown until his retirement
40 years later. He took great joy in working with the many talented staff members and colleagues who
shared his dedication to their patients.

Growing a dental practice, starting a family, renovating an old house, and growing a garden was not enough to contain Dick’s boundless energy. He was elected to the Board of Education, was active in the Sault District Dental Society, Pickford Lions Club, and Pickford Business Association. He served on the
Volunteer Ambulance Corps for over a decade. He was an elder, choir member and Sunday school music
leader in the Pickford Presbyterian Church. He announced high school football games, was chairman of the Pickford Township Planning Commission, and spokesman for the Pickford Volunteer Skunk Patrol.

He was a long-serving chairman of Pickford Community Days, then Pickford Hay Days. He delighted in donning a top hat and leading groups of kids and adults in singing and silliness. He was adept at snagging many volunteers to help move a stage, judge a parade, hand out 10k medals, or be a pooper scooper (because “you need horses in a parade!”).

He helped spearhead the creation of the Pickford Area Historical Society (Pickford Museum) and served
as co-treasurer. He and Sarah chaired the Steering Committee for the Arts Center at Lake State and
served on the building committee of the Pickford Community Library.

He was involved in music and theatre in Sault Ste. Marie, Cedarville, and DeTour. He had major roles in
The Mikado, My Fair Lady, Pirates of Penzance, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, The Fantastics,
Oliver, and too many more to list, often rehearsing while working on patients. He was an excellent self-
taught guitarist, violinist, and banjo player. He sang as a talented and strong tenor. He regularly joined
the Pickford Pickers, and he was playing and singing until his last few days.

Many kids and adults knew Dick as the Ice Meister of Pickford’s Ice Rink. For years, he had a large rink
behind his house with full boards, lights, and a warming shed. Eventually he moved the rink to the
Township Park, where a roof helped keep the sun and snow off. He would regularly wake at 4AM to
flood the rink in the coldest hours; he considered it a spiritual experience. He would often help find
skates or hockey sticks for kids that needed them, or help sharpen their skates. The rink was a joy, never
a chore.

He continued playing with Soo Amateur Hockey. He delighted in making the perfect pass or skating past
players to score the occasional “hat trick” well into his 60s.

Outdoor activity was an everyday thing. He biked to work every day, no matter the weather. In the
summers he was an avid sailor, windsurfer and paddler. He was a regular golfer and even introduced
Golf Bikes to the Munoscong Golf Club if just to make his own outings more of a workout.

He was blessed to spend many happy summers at the lake with his family, nieces and nephews, great-
nieces and great-nephews. Even in relaxation, he never stopped moving, raking leaves, pressing cider,
building rafts, treehouses, and a tiki hut, or finding the perfect marshmallow stick.

He recently came out of retirement to work as a dentist for the Michigan Department of Corrections two days a week. He enjoyed the work, his co-workers, and helping out where there was a need.
Dick lived a life that was filled to the brim and full of joy and song. Anyone who spent time with him was
fortunate to feel the electricity of his enthusiasm and energy.

A service will be held on Saturday, December 13 at 11AM in the Pickford Presbyterian Church with a
light meal to follow.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Ball Hospice House and in his generous spirit, please get involved
and/or donate to community organizations that bring you joy.

Family Life Funeral Homes – Pickford assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be given
to the family at www.familylifefh.com.