Mabel Evelyn Morrison

On Monday, October 25th, 2021, Mabel Evelyn Morrison, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend passed away at the age of 96. Mabel was born to Otto and Josephine Stevens, in Loma, Montana, and spent her childhood living on the family farm that her parents started as homesteaders. She grew up with seven siblings (four brothers and three sisters). Her parents instilled the values of hard work, trying one’s best and finding a career that one loves. During World War II, when nurses were in great demand, Mabel and her sister Olive attended nursing school together in Montana. Mabel married Frank Morrison in 1947 and they moved to Washington state, first to Walla Walla and later to Spokane, where Mabel lived for the rest of her life. Mabel loved nursing and spent the majority of her career at Spokane’s Veteran’s Administration Hospital. Over the course of more than 30 years at the VA, she occupied a variety of nursing roles, including as head nurse of the Intensive Care Unit. She attended night school while working at the VA and obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees (1954 and 1962 respectively). Mabel and Frank raised three children, Doug, Marge and Polly. Mabel maintained a strong connection to her roots in Montana and made sure that her family had the opportunity to visit the Stevens family farm each summer. Mabel had a strong love of learning. She was a voracious reader and passed along her passion for books to her children. Following Frank’s death in 1983, and her retirement from nursing a few years later, Mabel continued to seek learning opportunities, getting a second master’s degree, in counseling. Following her studies, she dedicated much of her time to volunteering, including at Riverview Retirement Community and Deaconess Hospital. Messiah Lutheran Church was an important pillar in her life and she actively participated in the church as a Council member and as a volunteer. Mabel had a keen sense of humor and she thoroughly enjoyed conversations with a wide variety of people from all walks of life. She was known for her willingness to always lend a hand, her seemingly endless supply of energy and her infectious smile. Mabel’s priority was always her family. She tragically lost her son to cancer in 2017 and is survived by her two daughters, four grandchildren (Libby Barteau Morrison, Elysia Morrison, Caeb Morrison-Basilius and Francisco Morrison) and her five great-grandchildren (Marli, Lola, Darnell, Hazel and Henry). Donations in Mabel’s memory may be sent to Messiah Lutheran Church, 4202 N. Belt St., Spokane, WA, 99205.