Official Obituary of
William "Todds" Morley
October 3, 1917 ~ January 9, 2015 (age 97) 97 Years Old
William Morley Obituary
William "Todds" Joseph Morley, age 97, was called home by God on Friday January 9, 2015. He passed into peace at the Anaconda Community Hospital in the presence of loving family.
William was born October 3, 1917 to John "Jack" and Sabina "Sib" (Corley) Morley immigrants to Anaconda from County Mayo, Ireland. He was a lifelong Anaconda resident always proud to claim he was born and raised at 619 Ash Street. The second of four children, he had 2 brothers [John Patrick (January 5, 1916-1958) and James Patrick Aloysius (May 16, 1923-1966)] and one sister [Katherine Marie Francisco (July 8, 1920-2008)]. He graduated from St. Peter's Catholic Grade School and as a youngster toiled delivering milk on sleds in the winter and as a paperboy for The Anaconda Standard. He recalled often delivering papers at 3:00am before there were streetlights in the town for a wage of 50 cents/day. He recalled feeling lucky to have money for food. His youth memories of Anaconda were amazing from button shoes to building forts with scrap wood borrowed from the foundry to watching ski jumping in Sheep Gulch. He attended Anaconda High School and as common at that time, employment for the Anaconda Company in the mid-1930's took precedence over graduation. He was proud to be a Smelterman for 42 years, working as a "stagecoach driver" taking crews to worksites off the Hill. He retired in 1979. He had a keen memory of most every job on the Hill and the entire smelting process. His oral history account of this was recorded by Story Corps and is filed with the Library of Congress. He was a good young athlete and enjoyed many sports in his youth including ice skating, basketball and baseball. He was a pitcher for the Smelterman's baseball team. Witnesses have recounted stories that he could hit a ball from The Common's clear over the Daly Gym or to the steps of the library. He was a ringer at horseshoes with time to practice during down time at work at the lunch shacks in the slum ponds. He competed in many of the large tournaments held in the area. He was always spry with a little Irish jig in his step and swore skipping rope well into his later years was good for him. He was quick with wit and had a litany of sayings unique to him and his generation that always entertained family and friends. His humor will be missed dearly.
Todds was enlisted into the Army in 1942 and served during WWII with the Fort Sam Houston Medical Corps in Texas. He was honorably discharged in 1943. He married Adelyn Patricia "Tiny" Shimming on May 24, 1944 at St Paul's Catholic Church in Anaconda, the same church where his parents were married in 1913. They enjoyed life in Anaconda and took much pride in their home at 609 Oak. They spent much leisure time at Skinny's (Francisco) Ranch in the Seymour Creek area of the Big Hole Valley. They raised three wonderful daughters, Patricia (Boucher), Judith (Calnan) and Willene (Kovacich). After Tiny passed away in 1975, he sold the family home and purchased a cabin at Georgetown Lake. The Cabin (Todds' Rendezvous) remained his summer residence the rest of his years where family and friends were always welcomed. His cabin was a wilderness summer haven for his grand-kids and great-grandkids and his 4th of July barbeques were the event of the summer for many. He resided in town, when not at the lake, as part of the Boucher family. Graciously at their home, Grandpa's room was a wonderful retreat and always a special place to visit him. He enjoyed the companionship of his little dogs, enjoyed collecting knick knacks to decorate his cabin or his room and loved all things pertaining to Montana wildlife. He was an avid fisherman in his day. He was faithful lifelong member of the Anaconda Catholic Community and earned a reserved seat at the summer masses held at Georgetown Lake. He was also a member of the Smelterman's Union and the Knights of Columbus.
Todds was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, his wife, his daughter Judy Calnan in 2004 and his daughter Patsy Boucher in 2008. He is survived by his daughter Willene with her husband Mike Kovacich and their children Katie Smith of Helena, Kellie Wendt of Helena, and Kevin Kovacich of Anaconda; their spouses being Tom Smith, Ted Wendt, and Abby (Reardon) Kovacich. His son-in law Victor Boucher of Anaconda and his children Amy Hayes of Gilbert, AZ, Shelly Rambur of Henderson, NV, Vickie Boucher of San Bernadino, CA, and Debbie Tuss of Las Vegas, NV; their spouses being JR Hayes, Tory Rambur and Brett Tuss. His son-in-law Dan Calnan of Butte and his children Dan Calnan of Houston, TX, Kim Calnan-Holt of Spokane, WA, and Julie Derzay of Spokane, WA; their spouses being Margaret (Cullen) Calnan, William Holt, and Michael Derzay. Grandpa Toddsie was so, so proud of his 16 great-grandchildren who he called "his gold nuggets"! They are Nathan Hayes, Meghan Hayes, Colton Rambur, Adelyn Derzay, twins Rylan and Tegan Holt, Calvin Rambur, Ashlyn Tuss, Samantha Smith, Aidan Tuss, Quinn Derzay, Jessica Calnan, Luke Wendt, Garrett Smith, Matthew Wendt, and Joelle Holt. How lucky we all have been to have such a wonderful person in our lives for so long! His entire family is a legacy and tribute to him and all know he rests in Heavenly peace.
Respects may be paid on Thursday, January 15th at 5:00 pm with the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and the vigil service at 7:00 pm at the Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Anaconda Holy Family Church on Friday, January 16th at 10:30 am with visitation one hour prior. Rite of Committal will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery with Military Honors.
The family is grateful to the care and compassion of the Anaconda Community Hospital Staff.
Memorial suggestions: Anaconda Catholic Community Luncheon Fund (217 W. Pennsylvania St. Anaconda, MT 59711), Discovery House (c/o Carole Kovacich, Program Director 65 Sheep Gulch Road, Anaconda, MT 59711 Phone: 406.563.3842), or The Wounded Warrior Project (P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675).
107 Oak St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
107 Oak St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
107 Oak St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
William was born October 3, 1917 to John "Jack" and Sabina "Sib" (Corley) Morley immigrants to Anaconda from County Mayo, Ireland. He was a lifelong Anaconda resident always proud to claim he was born and raised at 619 Ash Street. The second of four children, he had 2 brothers [John Patrick (January 5, 1916-1958) and James Patrick Aloysius (May 16, 1923-1966)] and one sister [Katherine Marie Francisco (July 8, 1920-2008)]. He graduated from St. Peter's Catholic Grade School and as a youngster toiled delivering milk on sleds in the winter and as a paperboy for The Anaconda Standard. He recalled often delivering papers at 3:00am before there were streetlights in the town for a wage of 50 cents/day. He recalled feeling lucky to have money for food. His youth memories of Anaconda were amazing from button shoes to building forts with scrap wood borrowed from the foundry to watching ski jumping in Sheep Gulch. He attended Anaconda High School and as common at that time, employment for the Anaconda Company in the mid-1930's took precedence over graduation. He was proud to be a Smelterman for 42 years, working as a "stagecoach driver" taking crews to worksites off the Hill. He retired in 1979. He had a keen memory of most every job on the Hill and the entire smelting process. His oral history account of this was recorded by Story Corps and is filed with the Library of Congress. He was a good young athlete and enjoyed many sports in his youth including ice skating, basketball and baseball. He was a pitcher for the Smelterman's baseball team. Witnesses have recounted stories that he could hit a ball from The Common's clear over the Daly Gym or to the steps of the library. He was a ringer at horseshoes with time to practice during down time at work at the lunch shacks in the slum ponds. He competed in many of the large tournaments held in the area. He was always spry with a little Irish jig in his step and swore skipping rope well into his later years was good for him. He was quick with wit and had a litany of sayings unique to him and his generation that always entertained family and friends. His humor will be missed dearly.
Todds was enlisted into the Army in 1942 and served during WWII with the Fort Sam Houston Medical Corps in Texas. He was honorably discharged in 1943. He married Adelyn Patricia "Tiny" Shimming on May 24, 1944 at St Paul's Catholic Church in Anaconda, the same church where his parents were married in 1913. They enjoyed life in Anaconda and took much pride in their home at 609 Oak. They spent much leisure time at Skinny's (Francisco) Ranch in the Seymour Creek area of the Big Hole Valley. They raised three wonderful daughters, Patricia (Boucher), Judith (Calnan) and Willene (Kovacich). After Tiny passed away in 1975, he sold the family home and purchased a cabin at Georgetown Lake. The Cabin (Todds' Rendezvous) remained his summer residence the rest of his years where family and friends were always welcomed. His cabin was a wilderness summer haven for his grand-kids and great-grandkids and his 4th of July barbeques were the event of the summer for many. He resided in town, when not at the lake, as part of the Boucher family. Graciously at their home, Grandpa's room was a wonderful retreat and always a special place to visit him. He enjoyed the companionship of his little dogs, enjoyed collecting knick knacks to decorate his cabin or his room and loved all things pertaining to Montana wildlife. He was an avid fisherman in his day. He was faithful lifelong member of the Anaconda Catholic Community and earned a reserved seat at the summer masses held at Georgetown Lake. He was also a member of the Smelterman's Union and the Knights of Columbus.
Todds was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, his wife, his daughter Judy Calnan in 2004 and his daughter Patsy Boucher in 2008. He is survived by his daughter Willene with her husband Mike Kovacich and their children Katie Smith of Helena, Kellie Wendt of Helena, and Kevin Kovacich of Anaconda; their spouses being Tom Smith, Ted Wendt, and Abby (Reardon) Kovacich. His son-in law Victor Boucher of Anaconda and his children Amy Hayes of Gilbert, AZ, Shelly Rambur of Henderson, NV, Vickie Boucher of San Bernadino, CA, and Debbie Tuss of Las Vegas, NV; their spouses being JR Hayes, Tory Rambur and Brett Tuss. His son-in-law Dan Calnan of Butte and his children Dan Calnan of Houston, TX, Kim Calnan-Holt of Spokane, WA, and Julie Derzay of Spokane, WA; their spouses being Margaret (Cullen) Calnan, William Holt, and Michael Derzay. Grandpa Toddsie was so, so proud of his 16 great-grandchildren who he called "his gold nuggets"! They are Nathan Hayes, Meghan Hayes, Colton Rambur, Adelyn Derzay, twins Rylan and Tegan Holt, Calvin Rambur, Ashlyn Tuss, Samantha Smith, Aidan Tuss, Quinn Derzay, Jessica Calnan, Luke Wendt, Garrett Smith, Matthew Wendt, and Joelle Holt. How lucky we all have been to have such a wonderful person in our lives for so long! His entire family is a legacy and tribute to him and all know he rests in Heavenly peace.
Respects may be paid on Thursday, January 15th at 5:00 pm with the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and the vigil service at 7:00 pm at the Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Anaconda Holy Family Church on Friday, January 16th at 10:30 am with visitation one hour prior. Rite of Committal will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery with Military Honors.
The family is grateful to the care and compassion of the Anaconda Community Hospital Staff.
Memorial suggestions: Anaconda Catholic Community Luncheon Fund (217 W. Pennsylvania St. Anaconda, MT 59711), Discovery House (c/o Carole Kovacich, Program Director 65 Sheep Gulch Road, Anaconda, MT 59711 Phone: 406.563.3842), or The Wounded Warrior Project (P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675).
Visitation
JAN 15. 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM (MST)
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home107 Oak St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Rosary
JAN 15. 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MST)
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home107 Oak St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Vigil
JAN 15. 7:00 PM (MST)
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home107 Oak St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Mass of Christian Burial
JAN 16. 10:30 AM (MST)
Holy Family Catholic Church217 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Anacoonda, MT 59711
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