Thomas F Morse

Thomas Morse, born February 26, 1937, in Cortland, New York, courageously passed away on May 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He resided in Locke, New York, and spent his winters in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Thomas lived a full and resilient life defined by hard work, devotion to family, and a deep love for the outdoors. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957. He was an entrepreneur from a young age; he was never afraid of hard work. He spent many years as a horse trader and proudly showed horses at the New York State Fair, where he especially enjoyed his beloved Haflingers.

For 33 years, Thomas and Edith owned and operated Tollgate Mobile Homes and Parks. He was also an active member of the VFW and the Elks and proudly served his community as a firefighter in Moravia.

Family was always at the center of Thomas’s life. He shared four children with his first wife, Joanne Morse: Tim Morse (Jackie), Sue Morse, Bonnie Nye (Gary), and Penni Morse (Terry). He later married Edith Morse, with whom he had a son, Steve Morse (Debbie). He also embraced Edith’s children, Teri Whittman and Russ Sharpsteen. Later in life, he reunited with Joanne until her passing and most recently shared companionship with his partner, Pauline Snyder.

He is survived by his children, stepchildren, grandchildren Rena (Sean), Ryan (Kate), Nate, Brittany (Mike), Artie, Ashley, Marisa, and Michael; and his cherished great-grandchildren Lila, Vada, Tripp, and Theo. He was predeceased by his wives, Joanne and Edith; his granddaughter, Rachel Nye; and his siblings, Lucy Stevens and Phil Morse.

Thomas faced many health challenges throughout his life, yet he met each one with remarkable strength and determination, earning him the nickname “Iron Man.” His legacy lives on in the family he built, the lives he touched, and the enduring example of strength and perseverance he leaves behind.

A private family service will take place. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Four Town Ambulance, 109 Main St., Moravia, NY 13118. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas F. Morse, please visit our floral store.