Obituary: Eleanor May Morris, Co-Founder of French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust

Eleanor May Morris, a pioneer in using conservation easements to save open space, died peacefully at her home in Pughtown on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.

She was 92 and was the widow of former state Representative Samuel W. Morris.

A resident of South Coventry Township for 65 years, Mrs. Morris was very active in politics, land conservation, historic preservation, and many facets of community life. Her deepest commitment was to conserving open space.  

In 1967, she and her husband founded the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. The mission of the Trust was to preserve open space in the watersheds of the two creeks, as well as historic buildings and communities. It was among the first organizations in the nation to promote the preservation of open space through the use of conservation easements, a novel approach at that time. Under her leadership, the Trust convened national conferences on open space preservation to share innovative techniques with others. 

Mrs. Morris was the driving force behind the Trust from its founding until 2002 and she served as president for 30 years. During her tenure, the Trust permanently preserved over 7,000 acres through donated and purchased conservation easements as well as public/private partnerships. In addition, it placed over 60 sites and districts on the National Register of Historic Places.             

Mrs. Morris graduated from The Shipley School, attended Radcliffe College, and earned two degrees in American history from Bryn Mawr College, a Bachelor's of Arts in 1941 and a Master's of Arts in 1970. 

Eleanor and Sam Morris moved to Lundale Farm in northern Chester County in 1946. They established a dairy herd and raised sheep, pigs, beef, chickens and vegetables.    

Mrs. Morris became involved in the Chester County Democratic Party shortly after moving to the South Coventry and served as a Committeeperson for 60 years. When Mr. Morris ran on the Democratic ticket for the Pennsylvania Legislature, she threw herself into managing his campaigns. He was elected in 1970 and served as the state representative for the 155th District for 18 years.  

Throughout that time, Mrs. Morris was his chief strategist and tireless supporter. Mrs. Morris’ interest in preserving land, streams, and history coalesced when the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust acquired an 18th-century flour mill and the land surrounding it in Chester Springs to save the property from development. She was a founding member of The Mill at Anselma Preservation and Education Trust when the mill, now a National Historic Landmark, was spun off as a separate not-for-profit organization.            

Mrs. Morris is survived by children Samuel W. Morris Jr., husband of Carolyn; Barbara Morris Caspersen; Eleanor Morris Illoway, wife of Stock; George M. J. Morris, husband of Vicky; Cooper H. Morris, husband of Wendy; Laura Morris Siena, wife of Ron; Christopher L. Morris, husband of Daryl; and Ozzie Abaye, who joined the family in 1979; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sisters Anita Kuhn and Elise Felton.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Lionville Fire Company, 15 S. Village Avenue, Exton, PA.  

Remembrances of Eleanor’s life will be offered at 7 p.m.  A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2011 at St. Peter’s Church in the Great Valley, 2475 St. Peter’s Road, Malvern, PA.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Lundale Farm, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded to promote the Morris’ legacy in land preservation and farming, c/o The Barn Office, 1153 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465, or the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, 511 Kimberton Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460.      

Arrangements are being handled by the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc.  Condolences may be offered online at www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com.