James H. Morse

James H. Morse, 90, of

Portland, N.Y., passed

away Monday, Aug. 10,

2020, after a brief illness.

Jim was born Sept. 13,

1929, in Westfield,N.Y., the

son of the late Clyde E. and

Florence (Newhouse)

Morse.

Jim graduated from West-

field Academy and Central

School in 1948 and began

working full-time on the

family dairy farm in West-

field, an occupation he con-

tinued until his retirement

about 10 years ago. He was

drafted into the U.S. Army

in 1953 and served in the

Korean conflict. After the

war, he returned to the

family farm in Westfield.

On Nov. 30, 1961, he

married the love of his life,

Olive Cranston. They were

married for 50 years before

her passing in May 2012.

Jim and Olive were the

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parents of three sons: John,

Paul and Dale, whom they

raised on Olive’s family’s

farm in Portland. Jim

managed both the farm in

Westfield and the one in

Portland for many years.

Jim and his mother

joined the First Baptist

Church of Westfield in the

early 1950s, and he

remained an active member

until his death. He served

as trustee, deacon and as-

sisted Olive as she taught

generations of children in

the Children’s Church.

Both before and after his

military service, Jim volun-

teered as a leader with the

Hardscrabble Hardhitters

4-H group. He was a life-

time member of the

Grange, attending both the

former Westfield Grange

and the former Portland

Grange 2. He also served

for a time on the Chautau-

qua County Agricultural

Stabilization and Conserva-

tion Committee.

Jim was preceded in

death by his wife, Olive;

and his parents, Clyde and

Florence Morse. He leaves

behind his three sons: John

and wife, Leah, of the

home; Paul of Ulmer, S. C.,

and Dale and wife, Jennifer,

of Westfield. He also leaves

behind nine grandchildren:

Isaac Morse of Brocton;

Nathan Morse of Westville,

Okla., Christine Thornton

and her husband, Rodney,

of Brocton, Jessica, Darren,

Lillian, Eli, Jacob and

Oliver Morse, of Westfield;

and one great-grandson,

Damien Morse of Brocton.

Several beloved cousins,

nieces, and nephews also

survive him.

Jim enjoyed passing on

his knowledge of farming

and life wisdom to his

grandchildren, most recent-

ly to his great-grandson,

Damien, who came to visit

almost every day. Jim

helped Damien select

chickens and taught him

how to take care of his

small flock. He also trav-

eled with Damien to show

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him where their Dutch

ancestors were from, and to

show him where his ances-

tors lived, worked and went

to church. Family history

and lore were one of Jim’s

favorite things to talk

about, and his favorite

knowledge, other than

farming, to impart.

Friends may call at the

Mason Funeral Home, 37

Clinton St., Westfield, from

6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug.

18. As you prepare to at-

tend, please be mindful that

face coverings and six foot

separation are required at

all times. Additional visita-

tion with be held at First

Baptist Church of Westfield

at 10 a.m. Services will be-

gin at 11 a.m. at the

church. The service will be

live-streamed on the First

Baptist Church of

Westfield’s YouTube chan-

nel for those that cannot at-

tend. Face coverings will be

needed for entering and

leaving the church and

proper social distancing

will be followed during the

service. Overflow seating

with livestream viewing will

be available at the church.

Anyone not able to attend

who wishes to, may send us

a short video, or email with

their memories of Jim. For

more information on how

to send your video please

email jhmorse funeral@

gmail.com. Videos will be

played and memories read

as part of the service. Buri-

al will be a private event at

the Portland Evergreen

Cemetery.

Services have been en-

trusted to the Mason Fun-

eral Home of Westfield.

Pastor Matthew Wolfe and

Rev. Thayne Bodenmiller

will officiate. To share con-

dolences go to www. mason

funeral.com or use the above email address.