Obituary of Mary Ellen Morrison
Mary Ellen Morrison was guided by the angels to heaven on December 5, 2022 and now is eternally joined with her husband, Donnie Wayne Morrison, and her parents Stanislaus (Stash) and Theodosia (Tilly) Gorka.
Mary Ellen was born on December 9, 1943 at St. Joseph’s hospital in Houston, Texas to Stash and Tilly Gorka, the eldest of six children. She is survived by daughter Kathryn (Kathy) Heinze and spouse Christopher (Chris) Heinze; son, Donald (Donnie) Morrison and spouse Silvia Morrison; grandchildren Jacob Heinze, Emery Heinze, and Hannah Morrison; five siblings Thomas Gorka, Sandra Timte, Janice Moore, Deborah Borski, and Geoffery Gorka; and several nieces and nephews and numerous cousins from the Gorka family, Laskowski family, and Morrison family, including her godson Alexander Moore and her goddaughter Stacie Yates.
Mary was an authentic person who was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend. She was generous with her time and talent as an educator, a religious education teacher, a church and community volunteer, a member of a service sorority, and an integral part of the family. She was also an avid Astros fan and was an Astro Space-ette usher in the Astrodome in her younger years.
She attended Saint Rose of Lima Catholic School and St. Pius X High School. After graduating high school, she continued her education at Texas Tech, finishing her degree in education at the University of Houston. She went on to earn two masters degrees in Education. Mary served as an Educator (teacher, aide, volunteer, tutor and other) for close to 50 years in the greater Houston area,including, St. Rose of Lima, Our Lady of Fatima, Resurrection, and HISD. Her work ethic and undeniable service to others is an inspiration to all.
Devout and pious, she attended daily mass for most of her adult life and earned countless Catechism hours as a religious education teacher and a first communion catechist at St. Ambrose. Most recently she joined her daughter as a third grade CCE teacher at St. Edward in Spring, Texas. She enjoyed the time she spent with Catholic Daughters Court Christ the King at St. Rose of Lima and with Alter Guild at St. Rose of Lima. She also attended St. Edward Senior Saint meetings and participated with Bible study groups. Her favorite part of life was being with family. She loved us all. Every person she met, she left with a smile.
A viewing and visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 8, 2022 with a recitation of the Holy Rosary led by the Catholic Daughters at 7:00 p.m. at Joseph J. Earthman Generations, 234 Westcott Street in Houston, Texas.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, December 9, 2022 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman Street in Houston, Texas 77018. The Rite of Committal will follow at 12:00 noon at Forest Park Westheimer cemetery in Houston, Texas 77077.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Donnie Morrison, Christopher Heinze, Thomas Gorka, Geoffrey Gorka, Anthony Borski, Andrew Moore, Alexander Moore, Garrett Gorka, and honorary pallbearer Michael Timte.
Flowers are appreciated or in lieu of flowers you may donate to Mary’s favorite charities, St. Jude’s Children Research, Our Lady of Fatima Missionaries, or a charity of your choice, or make a mass offering to celebrate Mary’s life.
The family wishes to express their deep appreciation and we sincerely thank you for your kind expressions of sympathy.