Obituary of Ann Morse Pritchard

Ann Morse Pritchard of Essex CT died Wednesday October 16 at age 88. She was the daughter of Walter Ronald and Mildred Ketcham Morse of New Britain CT, and sister of Richard K. Morse of St. Louis MO and Dorothy M. Cooper of San Antonio TX. In 1947, she married John Clayton Pritchard, son of Richard E. and Mildred G. Pritchard of New Britain. John spent his career with the Stanley Works and retired as Vice President & Treasurer. He died in 1983 at age 61, after 34 years of marriage. They had five children: Ted Pritchard of Arlington VT, Joan Pritchard of Hartford CT, Betsy Wheating of Waterbury Center VT, Carol Conry of Avon CT, and Susan Reed of San Anselmo CA. Today the family also includes five spouses and nine grandchildren. She later married William West and resided in Essex. For the final decade of her life she was a close companion of Jack Spangler, also of Essex. Ann was born in Middletown, grew up in New Britain, graduated from Northfield School and Skidmore College, and lived most of her life in New Britain. She volunteered for various community organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Junior League, First Church of Christ Congregational, and the New Britain Museum of American Art. She enjoyed traveling, skiing, tennis, vacationing on Mason's Island, and sailing the New England coast in the family's sloop "Revery." Ann is remembered as outgoing, inquisitive, independent, straight talking, an inveterate redecorator, and eager to participate in any social occasion where she thought she might meet accomplished and interesting people. She was especially proud of her Morse ancestors, who farmed for 250 years in southern Connecticut and participated in the founding of the New Haven and Wallingford Colonies. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 4 at 11:00 AM at the Essex Yacht Club, Novelty Lane, Essex, to which all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Child & Family Agency, 190 Westbrook Road, Essex, CT 06426.