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Morrison Celebrates the Life of Dorothy Nafus Morrison

Author, philanthropist and widow of Morrison Child and Family Services founding Director passes away.

Portland, OR - News Release
For more about Mrs. Morrison please click here.
Dorothy Nafus Morrison, author, philanthropist and widow of Morrison Child and Family Services founding Director, Dr. Carl V. Morrison, passed away on March 21, 2011.

To honor Mrs. Morrison’s legacy of scholarship and inquiry, Morrison Child and Family Services is proud to announce that a scholarship will be created in her name for Morrison’s Children & Mental Health Conference, currently in the planning stages. The Dorothy N. Morrison Scholarship will be awarded to a mental health clinician in Oregon who otherwise could not afford to attend the conference.

Morrison Child and Family Services CEO Tia Gray Stecher reflected on Mrs. Morrison’s passing. “It is hard to express what Dorothy Morrison means to Morrison Child and Family Services. Gar, as she was known to her friends, was a vibrant, eager and giving soul. A partial list of her accomplishments is stunning: published author, philanthropist, educator, mother, historian and volunteer. Simply put, Gar has been our friend and supporter over the last 64 years. She will be dearly missed.”

Mrs. Morrison was born in 1912 in Nashua, Iowa. Dr. and Mrs. Morrison met at the University of Iowa where Mrs. Morrison double-majored in English and Music. They moved to Portland, Oregon in 1947 when Dr. Morrison was named as Director of the newly created Community Child Guidance Clinic. Dr. Morrison spent 25 years leading the organization. In 1976 Dr. and Mrs. Morrison co-authored a book, “Can I Help How I Feel?” for adolescents. After Dr. Morrison’s death in 1980, Mrs. Morrison remained a friend and supporter of Morrison Child and Family Services. She was present at the 50th and 60th Anniversary celebrations for the organization and continued attending Morrison events until very recently.

A memorial service for Mrs. Morrison will be held on Saturday, April 16th at 2pm at Finley-Sunset Hill Mortuary located at 6801 Southwest Sunset Highway in Portland, Oregon.

Mrs. Morrison is survived by her 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Remembrances can be made to the Dr. Carl V. Morrison Lantern Society at Morrison Child and Family Services.

Morrison Child and Family Services is the leading provider of children’s mental health services in Multnomah County. A private, non-profit organization headquartered in Portland since 1947, Morrison partners with families and communities to provide effective and responsive services for children and youth coping with adversity and trauma. For more information about Morrison Child and Family Services, call (503) 258-4200 or visit www.morrisonkids.org.