Morris, Joan

April 16, 1924 – January 14, 2016
Joan died peacefully on January 14th, in her 92nd year, after an extraordinarily full and fully-engaged life. Born in Halifax, she grew up in Edmonton and Peterborough. Both parents died when she was 15. Joan completed an Honours Psychology degree at Victoria College, University of Toronto, and had begun graduate work when she met and married the great love of her life, Cliff.  Many in our community will remember Joan with great affection and respect. She and Cliff came to Barrie in 1958 and she devoted her formidable energies not only to raising her family but to her teaching and writing careers, volunteer work, her many interests, and her ever-widening circle of friends. She was a guidance counsellor at North Collegiate; then, when Eastview opened in 1967, became the first Head of its Guidance department, touching many lives. She was a great advocate for those battling mental illness and for people with for developmental challenges, playing key roles in the local Canadian Mental Health Association and what is now Simcoe Community Services. In addition she contributed to the cultural life of the community, as a regular concert-goer, book-club member, and as organizer of Author’s Nights for the Gryphon Theatre Guild (her first invitee was W.O. Mitchell). The freelance writing she did, which she had begun to help support a young family, encompassed  newspaper and magazine articles (for which she received a Canadian Women’s Press Award) and a series of textbooks. In retirement Joan and Cliff divided their time between Barrie and a summer home in Port Joli, Nova Scotia,where she soon added another circle of friendships, and delighted in gathering children and grandchildren around her for extended visits that invariably included crokinole, long walks, and auctions. When Cliff died six years ago, just three days after their 60th anniversary, Joan moved into Whispering Pines, and just over a month ago to Victoria Village. Until the end she retained her great appetite for life and learning, friends and family. Joan was predeceased by her brother, Jim Giffen. She  was a loving mother to Jamie (Glenda), Brian (Deborah), and Martha (Carl). She will also be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Erin (Sandy), Kate (Steven), Kaela, Colin, and Nikki; and great-grandchildren, Solaar and Sarah. The family’s thanks go to the warm and caring staff at Victoria Village who assisted Joan in her brief time there, and the people at Whispering Pines. Visitation will be held at Adams Funeral Home (445 St. Vincent St., Barrie) on Wednesday, January 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 7:00 to 9:00. The funeral service will be the following afternoon at 2:00 at Midhurst United Church (91 Doran Road, Midhurst). Donations in Joan’s name may be made to Simcoe Community Services or the David Busby Street Centre. Messages of condolence may be forwarded to the family through adamsfuneralhome.ca