Obituary: Bruce Cantley Morrison
Bruce Cantley Morrison
PORTLAND – Bruce Cantley Morrison passed away during his 100th year due to natural causes on Oct. 16, 2026. He was born in Augusta to Raymond D. and Miriam L. (Washburn) Morrison on June 29, 1927. He graduated from Cony High School, while there he participated in football, basketball, and baseball. In 1945, shortly after graduating and turning 18, he enlisted in the Army and served in the 24th Infantry Division Occupation duty in Japan in Southern Island and Kyushu. He was honorably discharged as a corporal. When he returned to Maine, he then attended Maine Central Institute post graduate program where he played football and was part of the State Championship prep school team. While at MCI he also played hockey.
As you can see, sports were a major part of his life and continued to be during his entire life by either playing, umpiring or being an enthusiastic fan. He attended Red Sox games in Fenway Park as a child with his grandfather while staying with his beloved grandparents, Laura and Percy Ford in Massachusetts. As an adult, he took his youngest daughter, Nancy and her friends to Red Sox games – one of which they were lucky enough to catch a foul ball. He hung onto that ball for over 30 years and eventually passed it on to his grandson, Alex. Although his professional team loyalties could change depending on how poorly he considered their play. At one point he was even a Yankees fan much to his family’s horror. He died a Red Sox fan.
After MCI he then attended Bates College where during his sophomore year, he was recalled to the Army to serve in the Korean Conflict. He was in the 8th Army 8204th CIU unit (graves division) identifying those who perished during battle. He was proud to have received letters of Commendations for his service. It was a horrific assignment which he rarely spoke about other than to say war was hell. He was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant. He very proudly wore a Korean War veteran cap or World War II veteran cap whenever he left his home. After Korea, he returned to Bates and graduated with a Bachelor of History degree. During his senior year he served as a freshman line coach for football after being injured while playing. One of his injuries resulted in him having his nose broken. He loved to fold his nose toward his cheek to get a reaction from new people in his circle. His love for Bates was undeniable, and he attended every reunion he could. As life would have it, he outlived most of his friends and classmates.
After Bates, he went to work for SD Warren/Scott Paper Company (now Sappi Paper). He was in Supervisory and Management positions in the Finishing Department and Customer Service. He married Judith H. (Pinkham) Morrison in 1959, they divorced in 1979. When he took an early retirement, he started volunteering for CASA (court appointed special advocate) for children placed in the court system by DHHS. He spent the next 20 years serving and protecting children in Southern Maine. He cared deeply for the children in his charge and would buck DHHS and the judge if he did not feel the child’s best interest was being met. He considered CASA” a most rewarding endeavor of a lifetime by helping those who could not protect themselves”. Bruce was awarded the Governors’ Maine’s 100 in 2000 by Governor Angus King in recognition of outstanding achievements and dedication to community and state through volunteerism and community service for his work with CASA. He was awarded the 6 Who Care award in 2003 also for his work with CASA and received a national CASA achievement Award in 2007.
He liked to travel in his “younger” years and was part of the Portland sister city trip to Archangel, Russia which was a highlight. During that trip he gave a young doctor who was going to an interview but did not have a jacket to wear so he gave him one of his so he would be properly dressed.
He also traveled to Finland, Switzerland, and Italy, which was his favorite country. Although he never got to Scotland, he was proud of his Scottish heritage. He owned a small plot of land in Scotland, a gift from his children, so he could be officially called Laird Bruce Morrison.
In keeping with his love of sports, he was an ASA umpire from 1975-1986 for fast, modified, and slow pitch for the South District. He was district umpire-in-chief and district commissioner for the Southern District. He enjoyed attending his eldest grandson Zach’s games be it soccer, basketball, or baseball when Zach played for Windham, travel, and college teams. He was asked to and did umpire one of Zach’s Little League games when they were short of an umpire when he was in his mid-70’s. He also greatly enjoyed watching his grandson Luke play lacrosse and football, as football was a shared passion, for them both. Luke would become his roommate and caretaker until he moved to assisted living at 98. He would happily tell anyone how proud he was of all his grandchildren and their successes.
After a heart attack in the fall of 1980, he started at the Heartline at the USM gym and continued in the Lifeline program. He loved the gym! It was his favorite place to be. He would be there as soon as they opened at least three days a week until the pandemic hit. He made some of his best and most loyal friends there. He wanted to acknowledge the Gym Rats: Jim P., Steve, Ray H., Arthur J, Andy, Katherine, Annette, Fran and all the rest. He greatly enjoyed and treasured his friendships with them. He felt the program provided him with a longer and healthier life and has many thanks to those involved. Dad never looked or acted his age. Whenever he met someone new, they would never believe he was as old as he was. His youthful attitude along with being active was his fountain of youth. No matter where he traveled, he would run into someone he knew whether during family travels to Williamsburg or shopping at the Mall. He loved to shop but had to get a bargain or deal which was a source of a family nickname of Bargain Basement Bruce. He was also a long-time blood donor.
In addition to the gym, he found joy in reading a good book, eating breakfast out with his friends, and yelling at the TV while watching game shows, football, or baseball. Dad also loved to eat out at F Parker Reidys, Tortilla Flats and Brea Lu Café being three of his favorites along with trying ethnic restaurants in the Greater Portland area. He loved to cut out articles from newspapers or magazines with information he thought you would enjoy. That’s how he showed he was thinking about you.
He lived in his home on Forest Avenue in Portland from 1962 until the Fall of 2025 when he moved to assisted living. His son Andy and daughter-in-law Paula along with Luke were the reasons he was able to be independent so long. Many thanks to them! He enjoyed the companionship and pleasure of cats. His current constant companion, Freddie, survives him.
He was predeceased by his parents; infant grandson, Andrew “AJ” H. Morrison, Jr. in 2001; his sister, Ann (Dr. James) McCullum in December 2017; his nephew and godson, Peter McCullum in October 2021; and son-in-law, Robert Conrad in 2000.
Bruce is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, about whom he said he was “extremely proud of their growth and achievements”, Beth (Steven) Cantor of Denmark, and Youngsville, N.C., grandson Zachary (SarahMaura) and great-grandchildren, AvaMaura and Owen Bruce Cantor, all of Raleigh, N.C., Andrew (Paula) Morrison of Westbrook, grandson Luke and partner Genevieve Leonard of Portland, Nancy (Thomas Cooney) Conrad-Cooney, grandchildren, Alex Conrad-Cooney and fiancé Lexi Glasgow, and Brooke Cooney, all of Coral Springs, Fla. He is also survived by his niece, Catherine McCullum of Brunswick.
His family would like to thank the VA in Togus and Portland along with his medical team which included Dr. Wadland, Dr. Moore, and Dr. Danforth for helping him to live a long healthy life. His family would also like to thank Stacey, Taylor and Odessa at Birchwoods for their kindness and care. He always spoke highly of them. His niece, Catherine, was a dedicated visitor and caretaker during his last years for which his family is most grateful.
Per his request and honoring his giving back to the community his body has been donated to the UNE School of Medicine.
A celebration of his life will be held at Allagash Brewing “Great Room” in Portland on Nov. 14 from 2 to 5 p.m., to tell Bruce stories. Please dress casually as he would want everyone to be comfortable. Interment will be private for the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Animal Refuge League in Westbrook, where four of his cats came from, a veteran’s services organization or making a blood donation in his memory.
Copy the Story Link
