Richard Cole Morrisey, 82, died peacefully on the morning of November 19, at home in Mechanicsville, Virginia, surrounded by his family. He was born December 24, 1938 in Queens, NY to Hazel Hopkins and Harry Morrisey, vaudeville entertainers.
A graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School, Richard rose through the ranks at AT&T Long Lines from an engineer in the telegraph room to a sales supervisor on an IBM account. He met his first wife, Donna Scarola, at AT&T and they had two sons, Richard and Michael. Later, the family settled in Blooming Grove, NY where Richard was active in civic life. He was one of five founders of the Independence Fire Company where he also served as president. He also served as a town councilman. After retiring from AT&T, he began a second career in the fledgling personal computer boom.
In 1996 he married, Marguerite Menzie (nee Miller), of Newburgh NY and eventually retired to Calabash, NC where he started his own company, Longleaf Associates. There he also continued his civic engagement by joining and eventually becoming an Exalted Ruler (2007-2008) of Elks Lodge 2679 of Calabash, NC. During his term, he helped to increase membership and supervised several charity events. It can be said that wherever he went in life, he left it a better place.
He was a proud and loving husband, father, and grandfather leaving behind: his wife Marguerite, his son Michael, son Richard and daughter-in-law Georgia Coopersmith and their children, Jonathan, Jenna and Michelle, stepson Robert (Melanie) with their children Kyle and Ryan, and stepson Michael (Heather) with their children Michael Jr., Jillian and Hayden.
Whether it was building communities, growing organizations or raising a family, we'll always remember his gracious personality, big heart, and the jokes that he shared with us until the end.
The deceased expressed a wish to have an ash spreading and life celebration which will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations https://www.richmondelks.org/youth-activities/ , https://www.sbgfd.com/ or https://carolinapoodlerescue.org/ .