NANCY REED MORRISON
1936-2021
Nancy Reed Morrison died peacefully at her home on the 22nd of May 2021. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Lucian Leeds Morrison, III, parents Charles Cochran Reed and Florene Burrus Reed, daughter Susan Lee Bryan, and sister Frances Reed Van Horn. She is survived by her brother Charles William Reed, daughter Kay Anne Bryan Schwartz, brother-inlaw James Van Horn, niece Stephanie Van Horn Concialdi, and cousins Barbara Forester Coleman and Susan Forester Brauchle.
Born in Houston on the 23rd of January 1936, Nancy graduated from Milby High School where she was an outstanding student and talented artist. In 2001, she was inducted into Milby’s Hall of Honor. Later in life, she attended the University of St. Thomas and in 1979 graduated magna cum laude. She shared with Lucian a pursuit and enjoyment of lifelong learning.
In the business world, Nancy marketed oil field equipment and services. She later was a marketing manager of nationwide environmental services company Pan Am World Services, Inc.
Lucian and Nancy were married for 22 years before his death in 2014. They were the loves of each other’s lives.
After Nancy retired from business in 1992, she and Lucian set a course of distinguished service and philanthropy. Nancy co-chaired the “Hail to the Chief ” banquet honoring Barbara and
George H.W. Bush in 1998, a black-tie event that broke all previous Houston fundraising records. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, which honored her as a Woman of Distinction in 1999, and chaired the foundation’s 2000 Winter Ball.
Nancy and Lucian chaired the 1996 Opera Ball, Splendor on the Nile, a very successful night. The gala reflected Nancy’s and Lucian’s sense of humor when they entered the venue on a camel. Nancy liked to joke about the large, formal portrait of her and Lucian in their gala attire; they kept the portrait in a closet and referred to it as “The Portrait of Dorian Gray.”
Nancy and Lucian long supported Rice University and became members of the Rice Legacy Society. Their interest in music led them to generously support Rice’s new hall for opera in which resides the magnificent Lucian and Nancy Morrison Theater. Nancy also served on the board of Rice’s Baker Institute Roundtable.
A special place for Nancy and Lucian was their idyllic house outside Santa Fe, high on a mesa, with spectacular views. Nancy will be remembered for, among many talents and traits, her keen aesthetic sense reflected in their beautiful homes and in her elegant style, which led to her induction in Houston’s Best Dressed Hall of Fame; for her wit and ease with other couples with whom she and Lucian enjoyed travel and good times, and for her generosity of time and resources to worthy causes.
Nancy’s family would like to thank especially Pam Southworth for her years of devoted and kind companionship, and Tony Garza for his years of astute service to Nancy and Lucian.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, the 2nd of June 2021, at two o’clock in the afternoon in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in
Houston. For those unable to attend in-person, virtual attendance will be available via livestream by visiting Nancy’s online memorial tribute page at GeoHLewis.com and clicking “Join Livestream”; there guests may share memories, words of comfort, and condolences with her family.
At a later time, the family is to gather for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Nancy may be directed to the Lucian Leeds Morrison, III Endowed Scholarship at Rice University, MS–81, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251.