Darleene Gail Morrison's Obituary
Our beautiful mom, Darleene “Gail” Morrison, age 81, passed away peacefully in her home on October 14th, 2023. Gail was born on January 4, 1942, in Bradenton, Florida. She was raised by her loving parents Edward Hubbard Deane and Billie Earle Livingston. Gail was the oldest of five girls, Karren, Terrie, Edie, and Bonnie, who are fondly called the “Deane girls” by friends and family.
She graduated from Manatee High School in 1960 where she was on the drill team and a senior notable. She studied art for over a year at Florida State University. She took classes in figure drawing, which eventually led her to become a portrait and oil painter.
Her entire family know the romantic love story of how Gail met her husband, Mike on the beach, while he was on leave from the Navy, and it was love at first sight for both of them. They married and eventually moved to Lakeland where they chose to raise their three children.
She loved fashion and design and did some modeling for a few years in ads and department stores. Naturally creative, artistic, and good with her hands, Gail flourished as a homemaker and a stay-at-home mom. She cherished her years raising her family and later babysitting and spending time with her grandchildren. She sang in the church choir as an alto and always especially loved Easter cantatas. Over the years she enjoyed cross-stitching, candle wicking, quilting, and canning. She also developed a line of hand painted, and handsewn fabric dolls called “Dolly O’tillia Originals.
She was an avid collector of all things Disney and whimsy, and loved antiquing with her friends. Spending time at Disney with her family was one of her biggest joys. She also had a wonderful gift for hospitality and will probably be most remembered for hosting large family gatherings at Christmas and Easter at her house, as well as the special handmade Christmas cards she would faithfully send out.
She passes down a legacy of faith and love, and is survived by her three children, Edward Morrison and his wife Shawna, daughter Michelle Harvey, and her son Richard Morrison and his wife Cathy. She leaves behind 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
There will be a service at Sarasota National Cemetery on October 25th at 10am.
What’s your fondest memory of Darleene?
What’s a lesson you learned from Darleene?
Share a story where Darleene's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Darleene you’ll never forget.
How did Darleene make you smile?
