County of Statue: Franklin County
Location of Statue: Holy Family Church Road, E. of MO Hwy C, 8 miles S. of New Haven
Plaque Text:
Rev. John A. Morse
"The Country Priest"
1926-2001
Memorial Cemetery
"Father John Arthur Morse, 74, Priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, of Concord Hill, Mo., died Sunday, February 4, 2001, at St. Joseph Hospital West, Lake St. Louis.
"He was born October 31, 1923, son of Howard Morse and wife Hortense, nee Nowotny, at St. Louis.
"Father Morse was assistant pastor at St. Peter Parish, Fulton, from 1952-1955.
"He was assistant pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, St. Louis, from 1955-1961.
"Father Morse was assistant pastor St. Aloysius Parish, Spanish Lake, from 1961-1968.
"He became temporary administrator at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish, St. Louis, from 1968-1969.
"Father Morse became the pastor at Holy Family Parish, Port Hudson, from 1969-1985.
"He was the pastor at St. Ignatius Parish, Concord Hill, from 1985-1996 until he retired in 1996.
"He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, David Morse, and one sister, Mary Jean Heithaus.
"Father Morse is survived by one sister, Angela Kerry and husband Joe, Pensacola Beach, Florida; one sister-in-law, Norma Morse, Birmingham, Alabama; nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews; other relatives and many friends.
"A funeral Mass was held Thursday, February 8, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Concord Hill, with Archbishop Justin Rigali and Father Finbarr Dowling officiating.
"Interment was in the church cemetery.
"Memorials to the St. Ignatius Catholic School or Masses are preferred.
"The Morse family was served by Nieburg-Martin Funeral Home, Warrenton." ~ The Missourian, Feb 13, 2001