Patricia Mary Morrison, 91, Salina, KS, died May 2, 2024 at Salina Regional Health Center.
Patricia Morrison was born Oct. 13, 1932 in Norwich, Norfolk, England to Thomas Frances and Caroline Lockwell (Moore) Amies. Her English childhood memories included holidays at the seaside and blackberry picking as well as the hardships of war: food rationing, carrying gas masks to school, and being pulled from a nice warm bed to sit in an Air Raid Shelter while bombs fell on the city. She lived in England before immigrating to the United States when she was a young adult.
Patricia married her first husband, Millard P. Nichols, in 1950, with whom she had four children. In 1956, she became a U.S. citizen while living in Texas. Then in 1960, after residing in several states, she made Salina, KS her home, where she continued to live for the rest of her life. There, in 1964, she married second husband James H. Lewis (d. 1993), with whom she had another child. Patricia and James owned and managed The Ritz Tavern and, later, The Shamrock Lounge, before she began a long career at Tony’s Pizza and Schwan’s in 1973, retiring as a Production Supervisor in 1997. She was proud not only of her accomplishments for the company, but also of the long-lasting friendships that began on the production line.
Patricia married her last partner in life and love Charles P. Morrison in 1995. Charles shared her love of singing, dancing, and travel, even accompanying her on a work assignment to Manchester, England in the summer of 1995 to Schwan’s Europe, where she was tasked with training the British team to meet her high standards.
An avid gardener who had a knack for being able to grow almost anything, Patricia surrounded her house with flowerbeds. She enjoyed a cup of tea but preferred very hot black coffee or a vanilla latte, and, in the evening, relaxed with a glass of Chardonnay or a little Sherry. Patricia loved her family, friends, and the Episcopal Church, which she became a member of in 1959 at St. Christopher’s, Glasgow AFB, Montana. Christ Cathedral, Salina, became her long-term church home in the early 1980s – she invited countless friends to attend with her, was a member of the Altar Guild for many years, and four of her grandchildren served as acolytes there.
Throughout her life Patricia remained courageous in the face of any challenges. Even as Parkinson’s Disease took much of her independence, she continued to be kind and compassionate, worrying about those around her. While hospitalized, she told her family to “be nice to the nurses” and wanted to take all visiting family out for dinner. She never lost the caring spirit those who loved her knew well.
Patricia is survived by children Carolyn (Danny) Kennedy, Don (Christine Breese) Nichols, David (Vicky) Nichols, Theresa Rathbun, Deborah (Michael) Moore, grandchildren Michelle (Regan) Williams, Chase (Ashley) Wheeler, Russell (Kelly) Wheeler, Shannon Nichols, Wesley Nichols, Shelby Jenkins, Jesse Jenkins, Emily Jenkins, Miranda Jenkins, great-grandchildren Dustin Williams, Joshua Williams, Danni Williams, Nicole Kennedy, Nathan Kennedy, Damion Wheeler, Fiona Wheeler, Roslyn Wheeler, Ethan Wheeler, Emma Wheeler, Molly Wheeler, Mac Wheeler, Trent Wheeler, Talon Jenkins, great-great-granddaughter Lochlann Reed, sister Jean Collier, brother Alan R. (Linda) Newland, and their children. Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, former spouse Millard Nichols, husbands James Lewis and Charles Morrison, grandson Robert Kennedy, and infant granddaughter Haley Sturm.
A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts in her honor to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org) or Christ Cathedral Episcopal Church, 138 S. Eighth St., Salina, KS.