AUBURN — Philip Ray Morse Sr. of Readfield died Saturday, Aug. 11, at Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn, after a two-year battle with cancer.
He was born Sept. 1, 1937, the son of Burton R. Morse Sr. and Evelyn (Harmon) Morse. Phil and his sister, Beverly, grew up near Brownfield with Charles and Alice Baker, who raised them as their own. Later, they moved to West Minot after losing their store to the forest fires.
Phil graduated from Mechanic Falls High School in 1956, and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 3½ years, from 1956 to 1958. During that time, he learned to do auto body work and ran his own shop for a while after his return from the service. He later had his own tractor-trailer truck and hauled from coast to coast. In 1979, he began working part time as a reserve for the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office. In 1988, he became a full-time patrol deputy and graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in 1989, retiring in April 1995 after serving for 16 years. He then started Misty Auto Body, his own auto body shop at his home in Readfield.
He enjoyed dancing, snowmobiling and traveling with his fifth wheel camper, taking a trip to Alaska in 2000. He also enjoyed many local camping trips, especially to Hebron Pines Campground in Hebron, Maine, where he played golf and attended Country Music Weekend each year. After retiring from the auto body shop in 2013, he sold wood-burned pictures that he made. He spent winter months in Florida, first with the fifth wheel camper and then later buying a trailer in Dade City. He especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Katherine Morse; brother, Burton R. Morse, Jr.; and sister, Joan Dunlop.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Elaine Mace Morse; his daughter, Linda Ross, and husband, Dana, and his son, Philip Morse Jr. and wife, Paula; stepsons Larry Mace and wife, Deb, and Peter Mace and wife, Lisa; grandchildren Ethan Morency, Tyler Morse and Maggie and Kate Ross; step-grandchildren Stacy Godfrey, Morgan Lancaster, Pamela Marrone, Ryan Morency, Nicole Faloon and David Mace; great-grandchildren Evelyn and Vera Marrone, Evan Morency, Chad and Ryan Lancaster, Addison and Caiden Faloon; sisters Beverly Kyllonen and Paulette Grenier; brothers Charles Morse and wife, Annie, and Ralph Morse and wife, Pearl; and many special nieces and nephews.
Phil’s family would like to thank the staff at Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn for its excellent care during his last days.
Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.
Philip Ray Morse Sr.
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