Parcourez la nécrologie de George Kenneth Ken Morse 19352024 résidant dans la province Nova Scotia pour le détail des funérailles
George Kenneth «Ken» Morse
1935-2024
Well Known Valley
Businessman and Entrepreneur Passes
Away
It is with great
sadness that we announce the passing of George Kenneth
«Ken» Morse on October 31, 2024, with family at his
side. Ken was born on April 28, 1935, in Somerset, NS, to parents
Kenneth and Marguerite (White) Morse. He was a beloved husband, son,
father, brother, uncle, grandfather (known to some as Grampie or
Buppie) and great-grandfather.
He is survived by his
wife of 35 years, Gertrude; children: Richard (Patricia Bowen), Robert
(Krista), Shelley (Jim Byers), Michelle (Trevor) Young, Susan (Mike)
Mitchell, Ray (Dorothy Keddy), and Jill (David Brien); stepchildren:
Stephen (Rina) and Timothy Verbong, Danielle (Doug) Haas;
grandchildren: Laurie (Graham) Husband, Lacey (Tom) Johns, Hattem
(Ashley) Morse, Brian «Jack» (Jessica) Morse,
Miranda (Keegan) Ashmead, Logan (Tim Greer) Morse, Mckenna
Morse Mitchell, Brandon and Ryan Quigley; 15 step-grandchildren, and 7
great-grandchildren.
Always an entrepreneur
with an exceptional business acumen, Ken was a dedicated worker who
took pride in workmanship. He started his self-employed journey in his
teenage years growing vegetables and beef farming, and later growing
tobacco. However, his greatest passion was trucking. He began his
trucking career 68 years ago when he purchased his first truck for
$400, a 2.5 ton Chev single axle and started hauling gravel for the
various road projects on the go in the 1950s. By 1965, he had 3 trucks
and started growing faster. He was a pioneer in the Nova Scotia
trucking industry, having obtained one of the first NS motor carrier
licenses. When industry regulation was preventing him from expanding
his business, he found a clever way to bypass regulation by creating a
rental and leasing business. This was the path that led him to
establish G.K. Morse Trucking Ltd., a family business that remains in
operation under the leadership of Rick and Robert. His business
enterprises led to many connections with respected suppliers and
longtime customers, for which he was thankful. He looked forward to
hauling Christmas trees to the United States each year and appreciated
the partnerships he created with NS Christmas tree growers. He was
also proud to be a land developer, road builder, and landlord. He
worked at the office until the age of 85, steadfastly being the first
one in the door in the morning, and the last one out at night. When
Covid kept him home, he maintained constant contact and kept an eye on
the business and employees from home. There were ups and downs in
business, but Ken’s mantra was always «never give
up».
During the pandemic he
missed his social interactions with family and friends, especially his
6am Sunday morning breakfast meetings with Phil Jordan, Sonny Bennett,
and Harvey Hanna.
Through his business
ventures and antique car interest he met many people throughout Canada
and the United States, forging many lasting relationships and
friendships. When not working he could often be found with tools in
hand, tinkering with an old car and joyfully restoring antique
automobiles with the same dedication he brought to his
career. If he wasn’t in the shop, he was likely
trucking to «the land of opportunity» (the United
States) in search of treasures to bring back. He was saddened when he
could no longer continue his annual trips to Hershey for the antique
car flea markets. As an ardent collector of antique automobiles, he
had a keen interest in Ford, Mercury and Lincoln cars and trucks,
Packards, and tractors, especially John Deere. Ken was a skilled
mechanic, obtaining his Red Seal Truck and Transport Mechanic license
at the age of 75. He found great pleasure in rebuilding engines and
restoring his antique automobiles. As an extension of this hobby, he
liked attending car shows, tractor pulls, and NASCAR
races.
He was knowledgeable
in many areas and loved history, especially in his research of the
Morse genealogy. He knew the family tree inside and out and made sure
his children all knew their cousins and their families in the USA. He
enjoyed listening to country music and was thrilled when he discovered
the Willie’s Roadhouse channel on satellite radio. In the
early fifties he was a member of the Berwick Male Choir with his
brother. As a young adult, he played hockey for the Valley Flyers in
Berwick and was also on tug-of-war teams. He was an avid reader and
enthusiastic traveler, reveling in new discoveries through literature
and sightseeing. If you ever visited a museum with Ken, you had to
prepare to be there a long time because he had to read every piece of
information provided at the site! Forever a storyteller, his sarcasm
and quick wit always kept people smiling and laughing. One of his
favourite quotes was from Henry Ford, «Whether you think you
can or you think you can’t, you’re
right».
He had an interest in
politics and volunteered for various political campaigns for
municipal, provincial, and federal elections. In the eighties, he put
himself into the fray and was elected two terms as a Kings County
councillor from 1982-1988. He decided to run in an attempt to lower
taxes, promote responsible budgeting, and provide transparency for
constituents and county residents at large. He was known for his
fearless ability to speak up for others. You never had to guess where
Ken stood on an issue, as he would be sure to tell you.
A respected mentor,
Ken gave many their first start in trucking, always eager to share his
extensive knowledge and experience. His influence cultivated a loyal
team, with several long-term employees, including Lawrence Keddy, who
started with the company 52 years ago. His office staff were equally
dedicated, from Barb Montford, who first set the tone of
professionalism, to Shannon Metcalf, who continues to keep the office
running smoothly to this day. Ken was always thankful for the
dedication of his employees over the last 68 years and remained
humbled that his business success was, in part, due to their loyalty
and commitment to the business. Without them, his business success
would not have been possible.
He was predeceased by
his parents, son David, brother and sister-in-law Harry and Madelyn
Morse, nephew Michael Rawding and grand-niece Ashley
Rawding.
Arrangements for
cremation have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and
Cremation Services. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on
Saturday, November 16, 2024 in the White Family Funeral Home,
Kentville, followed by a reception, and will be livestreamed for those
unable to attend. A private family burial will follow at a later date
at the Lakeview Cemetery, Lakeville. In lieu of flowers, donations can
be made to Fidelis House in Kentville.
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19352024
Décès pour la Ville Kentville, Province Nova Scotia
avis deces George Kenneth Ken Morse 19352024
nécrologie George Kenneth Ken Morse 19352024
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