Obituary of Maurice P. "Morrie" Pearson

Maurice P. “Morrie” Pearson, 77, husband of Geraldine A. (Barrett) Pearson of Peabody, died on Thursday, November 26, 2009 at the Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem. Morrie was born on June 17, 1932, in Lawrence, son of the late Maurice C. and Anna (Fitzharris) Pearson. He was raised and educated in Peabody and was a lifelong resident of the city. He enlisted into the United States Navy on February 25, 1952 and served aboard the USS Baltimore and was honorably discharged on February 17, 1956. Morrie was appointed as a permanent firefighter for the Peabody Fire Department in 1967 and served until his retirement in 1997. Morrie devoted his entire life to the care of his family and later was so proud of his grandchildren whom he cherished. While raising his family they camped for many years at the Pine Knoll Camp Ground in Albany NH, and he and his wife would always camp at the Fryeburg Fair in Maine. Being a jack-of-all-trades, Morrie would always be available to help anyone with any chores. As hobbies, he enjoyed gardening and most of all restoring his 1931 Chevy Coupe and 1950 Oldsmobile antique automobiles. In addition to his wife of 52 years, he is survived by his daughters, Kathleen J. Pearson of Salisbury, Linda J. Cornacchio and her husband Fred of Peabody; 8 grandchildren, Mariah Cornacchio, John & Kaitlyn Studley, T.J. and Ashley McLaren, Winn, Patrick and Meghan Broughton; 2 brothers-in-law and their spouses, Paul and Priscilla Barrett of Peabody, and Bob and Maureen Barrett of Lynnfield; several nieces and nephews and his trusted companion dog Dakota. His daughters Sharon A. Pearson-Studley and Maureen P. Broughton and his brothers Donald and Gerald Pearson predeceased him. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Adelaide Church, 708 Lowell St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the 82 Lynn Street facility. Burial in Oak Grove Cemetery, Peabody.