Harry Morrison, Jr.
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Harry Streator Morrison, Jr., 82, of Columbia died Saturday, September 4, 2010 at Boone Hospital. He was born October 6, 1927 in Douds, IA to Grace Cree and Harry Morrison. Harry’s integral part of the music and theater community in Columbia since 1960 leaves a legacy that lives on in the many lives he has touched so deeply over many years.
Mr. Morrison served in the United States Navy at the end of World War II and received his BA, MA and MFA in music from the University of Iowa. He toured with professional opera companies on the East Coast and began his academic career at the University of Idaho. In 1960 Harry began his long and distinguished career at the University of Missouri—Columbia, teaching voice and opera, and directing numerous productions until his semi-retirement in 1990. He was the well-loved voice of Marching Mizzou, and sang the national anthem at numerous MU basketball games. He continued to teach at MU, also teaching at Stephens College and maintaining his private students. In addition, he continued to direct and perform at MU, Stephens College, and many community productions. For forty years he was the beloved director of Music at the First Presbyterian Church. He was married to Connie Jacobsen Morrison for thirty years. Harry was an avid boater at the Lake of the Ozarks and had a life-long love of the water. In addition to the enduring gift of music, Harry has taught many lessons of life with his gentle guidance and wisdom. He is survived by his four daughters, Stephanie Reed, of St. Peters MO; Chally Morgan, of Sunrise Beach MO, Carrie Morrison of Chesterfield, MO, and Sarah Morrison of Austin, TX as well as five grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his four siblings, and an infant son, Harry S. Morrison, III. Memorial Contributions are suggested to the Missouri Symphony Society.
Thank you Harry for your love of music and your choice to invest in so many musicians. You will be missed.
I’m sorry to hear of Harry’s passing. I know how much you loved him. Though he is longer amongst you he will live on in your memories of him and your times with him.
Harry was a loyal and true friend to my parents, Kay and Bill Heck. I remember him very well from Marching Mizzou days. The world lost a great man but he touched many lives.
For many summers Harry would invite my family for a day of boating on the lake. Capt. Morrison taught our now 12-year-old how to Skipper the Captain’s “yacht” (her word). Harry shared many stories of a life in the theater and his love for his four daughters. We are blessed to have known Capt. Morrison.
Stephanie: I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. I know you miss him very much. My thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy go out to you and your family.
Harry gave so much to so many people. A wonderful teacher of music and of life. A loyal friend. These words don’t even begin to sum up this man. Please know that my prayers are will all of you and with Harry during this time.
Thank you for sharing your father with us. I shall never forget my friendship with him during my Marching Mizzou days.
Harry what an incredible life! Thank you for sharing it with my daughter Laura, you meant so much to her and she will miss you.
Harry was a wonderful man and a great teacher. My memories of Opera Workshop at MU are some of the fondest I have of my college days. He was a big influence in my life and I’ve thought of him often when I’m teaching my church choirs the vocal techniques he taught me. Thanks Harry for sharing your love of music with me. My thoughts and prayers to your family.
I had the privilege to know and learn the art of singing from Harry during his final years at MU. I was even more blessed to know him as a wonderful friend, timely mentor and the embodiment of wisdom’s cry. He always seemed to have the right thing to say in the simplest way with a gleam in his eye, to be followed in short order by an echoing chuckle. I will forever cherish the memories of his robust laughter, his sincerely jovial spirit, and his unfailing inspiration to make music the food of my life. To his family, I am very sorry for your loss. May you all be blessed and comforted in the knowledge that a great person has gone on before us to take a lead role in heaven’s choir.
I was PA announcer for 35 years at Mizzou football games…and during a lot of those years…I always looked forward to Harry’s halftime visits in the press box. He always had a smile and kind of a devil twinkle in his eye as he went about his work. I can hear him now…”Ladies and Gentlemen…the big M in the Midwest…..”
He was a good friend and I am sorry he is gone.
On our journey, sometimes we are blessed to meet someone who really makes a difference. I spent 5 years in Opera Workshop with Harry, and countless voice lessons from ’83 to ’88. Harry was an increibile musical talent but more than that for me, he was also mentor, teacher and friend. Harry invested in me, and many students like me. I will always be thankful for the time I spent with him. I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss, and ours.
Harry was such a lovely man. Always so gracious, but with that mischievous look in his eye. The voice (and life) lessons my daughter had with him have given her a wonderful start in life and music. Thanks, Harry, and God bless your family.
I didn’t know Harry well, but worked with him a few times recording radio ads. I always looked forward to our times together, and I will remember his rich velvet voice. He didn’t know, but I brought his name up often when discussions turned to the topic of voice over work. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Tagan Orbet of Channel 7 in Quincy just mentioned the death of her voice coach at Mizzou, and I knew it had to be Harry. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. I treasure my exposure to him while I was in Marching Mizzou from 1971-1975.
Stephanie,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Robin
What a magnificent man. He will be missed. He touched the hearts of so many. My deepest sympathy!
Harry Morrison was my beloved Great-Great Uncle and I will NEVER forget him! If anyone has ANY videos of him singing, I would love for you to send them to me. I have never heard him sing.
Our families spent many days over our young years enjoying each other. I remember those days still. I am so sorry you girls have lost your father. I know you have great memories of him as well as so many others he touched over the years. He will be missed by many. I pray for peace to be with you all during this sad time.
Harry Morrison was my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. He taught me more about the emotion of music than any other person. He once told me that you had to feel deeply about your music to make it come alive on stage. I will always be indebted to Harry for making me the performer I am. His voice lives on in all those he taught, those who continue to sing, and especially those of us who impart the lessons he taught us. Thank you Harry for every single thing you taught me.
Harry was a special uncle with a wonderful gift of music and love of life. We are saddened by your loss but will cherish our memories forever.
So sorry to hear of Harry’s passing. Harry was my voice instructor and mentor at MU until I graduated in 1973. I have lots of good memories of time spent with him, especially the Opera Productions Class and the musicals we put together.
I loved your dad so much. I remember all of the nice times we had together as we were growing up. Your mom and dad were like second parents to me. Glad I got to come to the celebration to honor Harry and to see all of you.
Dear Girls, Just learned of your dad’s passing tonight. I’m so sorry. You have my condolences. He most surely will be missed. I have many fond memories of him and you girls. He was an absolutely great voice teacher!! Love, Cuz
Dear Girls, Just learned of your dad’s passing tonight. I’m so sorry. You have my condolences. He most surely will be missed. I have many fond memories of him and you girls. He was an absolutely great voice teacher!! Love, Cuz
Harry was a great teacher and a great friend…I studied with him at Mizzou from 69–72 and my daughter Molly was lucky enough to find him at Stephens from 2001–2004. We are both saddened, and send our heartfelt sympathies to you all, and our thanks for the wonderful man your father was.
There will now be a voice in Heaven and we lost an awesome “voice of Marching Mizzou”. I will always treasure my friendship with Harry during those good ole’ college days. Everyone always wanted to be on the bus that Harry “chaperoned” because we always knew it was going to be a good time. My fondest memory of him is leading us out of the stadium after we beat Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. May his memories and his voice live on in our memories!
Your father was a guest conductor for my chorus class at Hickman in the very early 60’s. To this day I remember the fun and enthusiasm he brought to all of us. He will be missed.
Your father was a guest conductor for my chorus class at Hickman in the very early 60’s. To this day I remember the fun and enthusiasm he brought to all of us. He will be missed.
Stephanie-my dearest friend-Sorry for your loss
Carrie and Steph: I just returned from Colorado and read the obituary about your Dad. I wish I had been in town to attend the service. One of my all time memories of MUColumbia was how the name Harry Morrison was connected in that it seemed as though your Dad sang the national anthem at every athletic event I attended and how strong and proud his performances were. To get to meet him later in life thru each of you I found him to be even more genuine and sincere. He
made me feel welcome and at ease. I know what you are experiencing and want to remind each of you that memories are forever and you have to smile everyday as you remember your Dad. Thinking of each of you and your family. Take care Kenny McClure
I was in Marching Mizzou 1966-67. When his boomed out over the PA in front of 50,000 fans he got all us charged up. What a great guy. Was glad to get know him.
I only got acquainted to Harry in May. He was very interested in music and computers and technology even in the last months of his life. While he told me he was sick, I certainly never suspected it. His smile was much younger than is age and his attitude even younger than that. It was a gift to know him and while I am sorry for your loss he certainly was a man who made his mark, made the world a better place and “had a good run”. God speed Harry!
Mike – the computer guy
To the family of Harry, I just wanted to express my deep sadness for the passing of Harry. He was a friend and mentor to me during a difficult time in my life. I am sad I could not see him one last time in life since 2003. Please accept my deep sympathies for your loss. I admired him much and will miss him greatly.
I was saddened to hear of your loss and the loss to the world of such a wonderful man and teacher. I shall charish all the lessons in music and life as one of his students. I call still hear him correcting my diction in “Pirates of Penzance” He will be missed.
I met Harry while he was on vacation in the UK in 1995. We had just watched a VJ Day “fly past” in London and we fell into conversation…that led to supper at our house….and was the start of an enduring friendship. He travelled to the UK a few times to visit and we crossed the pond to meet up with him a few times too. He was such a warm, honest,witty and lovable character my family, Angie, Hannah and Rachel will miss him and that rich voice of his so much. It was such an honour to know him.
My friendship with Harry is the longest friendship of my life, and there is no truer friend. He was brilliant, funny, and slightly “wicked” in the best possible way. Thank you Harry for being the friend I knew would always love me when no one else did. It has been my privilege to know you.
To Harry’s family: I’m sorry that I just now learned of Harry’s passing. Please accept my sincere sympathies. I hope it comforts you to know how vastly many lives he touched in such a beautiful way. I studied privately with him as a high school student in the late 1960s, and although I went on to study voice in college and grad school, he was the best voice teacher I ever had. I’m so sorry for your loss.