Mary M. (Hayes) Morrissey

Mary Morrissey passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center in Lenox, following a brief battle with cancer.

A native and lifelong resident of Lee, Mary was born on April 27, 1938, the daughter of Edmund and Marie Hayes. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Grammar School, Lee High School and earned a B.A. in History from Our Lady of the Elms followed by an M.A. in American History from the University of Connecticut.

Mary is survived by her brother Edmund (Susan) of Naples FL; nephew Patrick (Amy) of St. Charles, IL; and her nieces Amy Hayes (Gary Levene) of San Francisco, CA; Melissa Pierce (Jon) of Aurora, CO; Kaitlin Reimann (Chris) of Lake Orion, MI; and Brenda Calvert (Clark) of Fayetteville, AR. She also is survived by many grand nieces and nephews all of whom she loved dearly. She was predeceased by her husband, William Morrissey and her sisters Patricia Plourde and Catherine Hayes.

Mary dedicated 38 years to teaching in the elementary and middle schools in Lee.   She loved being a teacher and often went above and beyond creating engaging and enriching programs for her students. After retiring from Lee Public Schools, she embraced new roles including working as a tour guide for Morgan Coach Lines and assisting post high school students with disabilities through CIP Berkshires.

A devout Catholic, Mary was a longtime communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Lee, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of the first Parish Council, St. Mary’s School Development Council, the Adoration Society, and contributed as a writer and researcher of the church’s history. 

Mary had a love for travel and often spent her school breaks and summer vacations working as a youth counselor for cruise ships, exploring many countries.  Her family treasured the postcards and thoughtful gifts she brought back from her adventures. Throughout her life, she remained a constant source of love, encouragement, and support to her family and friends. 
She also generously gave her time to the many causes she cared about. One particularly joyful commitment was her involvement with the Red Hat Society, where she cherished the camaraderie and fun shared with its members.

Mary was appointed to the Lee Historical Commission in 1989 and served for over 25 years, including terms as Chairperson and Co- Chairperson. Her passion for documenting and preserving local history was evident in the work she performed during her tenure.  She later became a founding member of the Lee Historical Society, where she also served on the board. In 2013, the Historical Society honored her with the Consolati-Davis-Dennis Award in recognition of her outstanding efforts to preserve the history of Lee.  

Mary’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center and Hospice Care in the Berkshires for their professional and compassionate care. We are also deeply thankful to the many friends who visited Mary and sent cards of encouragement during her final days.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 23rd, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, Main Street, Lee, MA. Rev. Matthew Guidi will be the celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Hospice Care in the Berkshires or St. Mary’s School, in care of Kelly’s Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238.