Thursday, March 28, 2024

Claude Murray Morse – Obituary

Claude Murray Morse, age 81 years, a resident of Buncombe, Illinois, passed away Tuesday afternoon, September 3, 2013, at 12:10 p.m. at the Jonesboro Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Claude was born October 6, 1931 in the Delwood community in Pope County Illinois. He was the son of Cecil and Ada (Hill) Morse.

Claude was united in marriage to Phyllis Grant on September 2, 1963 at the Busby Chapel Freewill Baptist Church at Goreville, Illinois. She survives.

Other survivors include:

2 Sons – Zandle (Lisa) Morse of Buncombe, IL
Wesley (Mary Sue) Morse of Mulkeytown, IL
3 Grandchildren – Tyler, Chloe, & Hannah Mae Morse
2 Aunts – Betty Yarber of Carrier Mills, IL
Roma Hill of Stonefort, IL

Claude was preceded in death by his parents.

Claude was employed as an attendant at the Goreville Shell Station for approximately 5 years. He had also worked as a custodian at the Buncombe Grade School and for 19 years at the Union County Hospital. Claude also was a television and radio repairman.

Claude had a deep Christian faith. He was a member of the Lick Creek Pentecostal Church. Claude had also served as pastor of the Mt. Olive Church, north of Vienna, for 12 years. In their youth, Claude and Phyllis traveled with Brother Conard Ellis providing music for tent revivals and gospel meetings. Claude’s love of music was a lifelong passion which he shared freely from his heart. He especially enjoyed spending time singing with his grandchildren.

Claude was an avid “C.B.” radio enthusiast. He was widely known by his handle, “Banjo picker.”

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 6, 2013, at 11 AM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.

Burial will be in the Ebenezer-Hall Cemetery near Lick Creek.

Visitation will be from 5 PM – 8 PM Thursday at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.

Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905 or to the Lick Creek Pentecostal Church, c/o Clara Faye Perry, 125 Pulleys Mill Road, Goreville, IL 62939.