Obituary of Donna Ann Morris

Donna Ann Morris, age 65 of Hamburg, NJ, and formerly of Rome, passed away peacefully at the Masonic Care Community on Saturday February 23, 2019. Born December 7, 1953 in Rome, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Grace Morris. She graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1971. In 1977, she earned a BA in Psychology from Syracuse University. In 1982, she earned an MS in Computer and Information Science from Syracuse University. In 1978, she started her career in Software Engineering working for PAR Technology Corporation in New Hartford, NY. In 1985 while at PAR, she traveled to Boston, MA, Long Island, NY and Melbourne, FL to work on the ISTARS project. In 1990, she transferred to Harris Corporation in Melbourne, FL to work on Range Safety at Cape Canaveral and finger print matching for the FBI. In 1996, she transferred to Boeing in Fort Walton Beach in the Panhandle of Florida. There she worked on AC-130U Gunship Software. As Flight Test Engineer, Donna had several opportunities to fly night missions on the Gunship. In 2001, Donna moved to Clifton, NJ to work for Harris Corporation. She worked at Harris until May 2018 on all aspects of GPS satellites, space segment, ground segment and user segment. While living in NJ for the past seventeen years, Donna became close friends with many of her co-workers and neighbors who stood by her side during her illness. Donna enjoyed traveling within the United States. She went to Hawaii, did an Alaskan Safari, including watching Grizzly Bears in the Kenai Peninsula and visiting Denali National Park. She went white water rafting on the Middle Fork at the Salmon River in Idaho and the Colorado River in Utah. She enjoyed trips to Tanglewood, MA to see the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the summer and trips to Carnegie Hall to great performances with her friend, John Quincy Adams. She also enjoyed several trips to NYC with the Oneonta girls to see a play and have dinner. Donna had many interests and hobbies including reading, knitting, hiking, walking, golfing, swimming, snow shoeing, taking pilot lessons, ballet dancing and working out with a personal trainer. Donna is most proud of soloing a Cessna 152 at Destin Airport in 2000. Donna loved spending holidays with the Barry family of Rome, NY. She will be sadly missed by many lifelong friends especially Janet, Vicki and Lorraine. Donna will be remembered for her fun and loving personality. She brought joy to all occasions. Donna was pre-deceased by a brother, Edward Morris; and a sister, JoAnn Morris O'Neil. Donna is survived by a brother, Peter (Laura) Morris; a nephew, Jeffrey (Alana) Morris; a niece, Anna Morris; a brother-in-law, Tom O'Neil; an aunt, Anna Heisler; and special cousins Crystal (Tom) Barry, Kelly (Micah) Yuzakewich and Tricia Barry. The Morris family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Wiley Hall and The Monticello wing of the Masonic Care Community of New York. The funeral service will be held Saturday at 2:00 PM, at the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM, prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, Donna's family suggests that contributions be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society. Please offer online tributes at www.barryfuneralhome.com.