Thomas M. Morris

JAMAICA — Thomas M. Morris, 61, of Jamaica, Vermont died on Feb. 18, 2018 from an acute illness. He is survived by his dog Jackson, his sweetie Nancy Jean Henry, and his three brothers, Francis K. Morris and wife Ellen Howard of Brookline, Massachusetts; Donald C. Morris and his wife Betsy; and Stephen D. Morris and his wife Nancy, all of Southborough, Massachusetts. He also leaves a niece Meghan Morris, and nephews Robert Howard, Chuck, Sean and Matthew Morris.

Tom’s life centered around Nancy Jean, the love of his life for 27 years, and The Bondville Boys, a local bluegrass band in which he joyously played banjo and guitar, and wrote songs, with dear friends, for almost 30 years. Tom played a lot of hockey and refereed thousands of games including a benefit game with his home team, the Boston Bruins. He also loved the Red Sox, his garden, stacking wood, and the house he and Nancy Jean made into a loving home over the years.

Tom was born inSouthboro, Massachusetts in 1956, the son of the late Donald C. Morris and Stephanie A. (Kret) Morris. He graduated from Algonquin Regional High School and attended UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture with a degree in Turf Management. Tom worked as a greenskeeper in Massachusetts and Vermont for 35 years, was a lifetime member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association, and in 2004, he and Nancy Jean established their own property services business. When younger, Tom was heavily involved in sports and he continued to live a very active athletic life, with hockey as well as running and bicycling. In Jamaica, Tom was often seen running or biking up and down the local roads he loved, or in the center of town, banjo around his chest, bedecked in his beloved shorts, Hawaiian shirts and work boots, with a big grin and a sweet wave to all.

Tom’s life was spent trying to make the world a better place. He volunteered whenever he could, stepped up to help people and loved to pay it forward. He loved Jamaica and Jamaica loved him back and the town is dimmer without his glow, his music, and his sweet gentle ways.

A memorial mass was held on Feb. 28 in Southborough. There will be a gathering to celebrate Tom’s life in the spring / summer, at a date to be announced. Donations may be sent to the Jamaica Food Pantry at P.O. Box 179, Jamaica VT 05343.