March 28, 2024

Donald E. Morrell

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Donald E. Morrell, 89, of Rehoboth, died peacefully on April 24, 2022 at Miriam Hospital.  He was the loving husband of Marjorie A. (McLean) for 65 years. Born in Barrington, RI, he was a son of the late Clarence S. Morrell and Nancy M. (McConnell) Morrell. He was the brother of Norman Morrell of Riverside and Ruth Meadows of Barrington.

Don was employed with Local 17 as a Sheet Metal Mechanic for many years until his retirement.  A craftsman by trade and tinkerer by nature, Don could fix anything, usually with duct tape and ingenuity.  He loved working in his gardens, feeding the birds, and maintaining his love/hate relationship with the squirrels in his yard. He built purple martin houses and kept bee hives, always intrigued by the science and power of nature.

Don was an active hunter and fisherman in his early years, and spent countless happy hours on Narragansett Bay with his cousins, Charlie, Lloyd and Al Patterson. He was the first president of the Riverside Sportsman’s Association.

Blessed with an abundance of family and friends, the Morrells hosted legendary cookouts most weekends of the summer, with Don at the grill “cookin’ to order.” The parties would always wind down on the screen porch with laughter and story telling late into the night.

Don took up golf later in life, and he was a member of the Rehoboth Men’s Golf League at Rehoboth Country Club.  His love of golf and sunshine led he and Marj to 25 years of snow birding to their second home in Margate, Florida, where they made many treasured friendships over the years. 

In addition to his wife, Don leaves his loving children: Bill Morrell and his wife Liz of Rehoboth, Glenn Morrell and his wife Robin of Weare, NH, Deb Woodard and her husband John, and Peter Morrell and his wife Marie, also of Rehoboth.  He was enormously proud of his eight grandchildren: Jason (Andrea), Greg, Abbie (Dave), Dana (Connor), Kyle (Meghan), Kella (Hazem), Taylor (Shane), and Ian, and perpetually delighted by his great-granddaughters, Jocelyn, Eliza, Natalie and Elsie.  He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

Don was truly grateful for every single day he was given, and told everyone he met that he was “the luckiest guy in the world.”  His family and friends know that we were the lucky ones to have him. 

His Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 7th at 11:00 a.m. at the Rehoboth Congregational Church, 139 Bay State Road. Burial will be private.  Calling hours are respectfully omitted.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory to Dr. Stone’s Leukemia Research Fund, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 will be appreciated.

Arrangements are in the care of the Home of J.H. WILLIAMS & CO.  For online messages of condolence, kindly visit www.jhwilliamsfuneralhome.com

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