Martha Horton Morris

Martha Horton Morris, 93, died Friday, April 3, 2015, following a long illness. The first child of Freeman and Mabel Horton, Martha was born February 8, 1922, in her parents’ Bradenton home on 25th Street West. She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin C. Morris, Jr; her parents; and a brother, Donald M. Horton. She leaves a brother, Allan Horton (Martha) of Sarasota; four children, Gregory, of San Juan, P.R.; David (Adele) of Laurel, Md; Patricia Hobson (Michael) of Bradenton; Robert, Richmond Va.; and her grandchildren: Jennifer Hobson, Kevin Hobson, Daniel Morris, Richard Morris, Christian Morris, Isabelle Morris, and Olivia Morris.

As a child, she moved with her parents to St. Augustine, FL, and Cincinnati, OH, before returning to Bradenton during the Depression. Her parents owned and operated a tropical fruit, vegetable and gladiolus farm on Snead Island while her father pursued his career as a civil engineer. The family lived in a small home on top of the Portavant aboriginal Indian mound which sparked Martha’s life-long interest in local history. The farm is now part of the Emerson Point Preserve.

Martha graduated from Bradenton High School and went to Agnes Scott College for one year before transferring to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she received a BA degree in Spanish and French. She married Martin C. Morris, Jr, in 1944 in the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, FL, while on a 3-day pass from Army glider airborne training in South Carolina that limited his travel to Jacksonville.

Following the war, Martha worked as a secretary for the Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co. in Cincinnati, OH, while her husband attended the University of Cincinnati on the GI Bill, until the birth of their son, Gregory. After her husband completed his studies, they settled on Indian Beach Drive in Sarasota. Martin worked as an engineer at his father-in-law’s firm, Bail, Horton & Associates in Bradenton while Martha worked for the firm as a secretary.

After the birth of their second child, David, she remained at home until a 1968 Sarasota County School System strike when she became a substitute teacher for several years, later becoming a secretary at Booker Middle School and High School. Martha and Martin maintained avid interests in local history and family genealogy. She researched many family lines and found cousins in New England and Ireland, whom they visited several times to share family records and stories. Martha also was active in the Sarasota Parent-Teacher Association, was a Cub Scout den mother, a Girl Scout troop leader and was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota.

Martha loved all animals, particularly cats and dogs, gardening, travel, boating and enjoyed large family gatherings where she excelled as a hostess and cook, preparing paella, beef Stroganoff, coquina and lentil soup, snickerdoodle cookies and other delicacies.

The family will receive friends from 5-6 P.M. Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Shannon Funeral Home Town Chapel, 1015 14th Street West, Bradenton, with a service to follow at 6:00 P.M. Interment will be private at Fogartyville Cemetery in Bradenton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Martha Morris to the Manatee County Historical Society, 4501 Manatee Avenue West, #234, Bradenton, FL 34209-3952.

Condolences for the family may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.

Visitation
2015-04-07 17:00:00
18:00:00
The Chapel at Westminster Towers
1533 4th Avenue W.
Bradenton
FL
34205


Funeral Service
2015-04-07 18:00:00
Shannon Funeral Home Town Chapel
1015 14th Street W.
Bradenton
FL
344205