Obituary of Rita Kay Morrison

Kay Morrison, 77, of Carbondale, PA, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, April 30, 2021 following a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, William Morrison.

Born in Newark, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Rita Thornton Speicher.  She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale. She was a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School in Carbondale, and she and her late husband owned and operated Morrison’s Catering and Grove. 

She was devoted and loving to her family, especially her grandchildren.  She was affectionately known as “Granny” and recently became a great-grandmother.  One of her favorite places to spend time was at the beach with her family.  She had a green thumb and enjoyed tending to her flowers.  Her favorite holiday was Christmas and she loved decorating her home and baking Christmas cookies with her grandchildren.  She will be deeply missed by her children and grandchildren. 

The family expresses thanks to the nursing staff from Hospice of the Sacred Heart for their kind and compassionate care. 

She is survived by two daughters, Rita Morrison and her forever partner, John Staerker, and Lisa Liuzzo and husband, Mark, all of Carbondale, PA; twin sons, Billy Morrison and wife, Angela of Greenfield Township, PA, and Brian Morrison and wife, Melissa of Reston, VA; seven grandchildren: Miranda Staerker of Carbondale, PA, Kayley Liuzzo Carney and husband, Ryan of Denver, CO, Kamryn Liuzzo of Carbondale, PA, Kendall and Gigliana Morrison of Greenfield Township, PA, and Alyssa and Zachary Morrison of Reston, VA; one great-granddaughter: Ellie Rae Staerker of Carbondale, PA; one sister: Sally Kozlowski and husband, Fred of Florida; on brother: Donald Speicher and wife, Jill of Massachusetts; a sister-in-law: Betty Speicher of Carbondale, PA; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a grandson: Cory R. Morrison; a brother: Jerry Speicher; and a sister: Judy Weckel.

The funeral was held Monday, May 3, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. from Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 89 Farview St., Carbondale, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, 6 N. Church St., Carbondale, celebrated by Rev. Kevin Miller, assistant pastor. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Greenfield Township.     

Pallbearers: Ronnie Davis, Joseph Bennett, Daniel Demanovich, Jeff Weckel, Casey Newcomb and Chad Lynady.

Friends called on Sunday, May 2, 2021 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Memorial donations were made to the Northeast Cancer Institute, 312 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503