Virginia 'Ginnie' Morse

Virginia Lee Waide Morse (Ginnie) of Danville, Vermont, died on April 2, 2026, in Burlington, VT.

Born on February 4, 1944, in Greenfield, Massachusetts, Ginnie spent her early years living with her mother, Ruby, and her grandparents in Northfield, MA while her father served in the Army. The family welcomed sister Nancy in 1947 and moved to Springfield then eventually settled in East Longmeadow, MA. In 1956, youngest sister Jo-Ann was born. Ginnie was a bright and caring young woman. Early on she gravitated towards community service and joined the “Rainbow Girls” where her leadership skills were nurtured. Upon graduation from Fisher Junior College, she worked as a legal secretary at the prestigious Boston firm of Hale & Dorr, before relocating to Vermont in 1967 with her affable and entertaining husband and Danville native, Lloyd Morse. She introduced her family to the beauty of Vermont settling in Danville, the place she would call home for the next 52 years. She continued her career in law at Downs, Rachlin, and Martin in St. Johnsbury.

In 1972, Ginnie & Lloyd welcomed their son Lee Jae, who was the joy of their lives. Ginnie quickly became part of the fabric of the Danville community first continuing her career as a paralegal with Attorney Toby Balivet, of Reid & Balivet before culminating her career as Danville’s elected Town Clerk. She enjoyed days spent at the Town Hall with her colleagues and friends, and the citizens of Danville, and walking one block over to the Danville Restaurant for lunch. In her retirement she wintered in Ocala, Florida with Lloyd and spent summers in Danville, traveling to California to visit Lee Jae and their Grandson, Jaemin, traveling to horse shows, and spending time with friends and family. After Lloyd passed in 2012 Ginnie continued her love of life and community in Danville as well as often traveling to California to spend time with Lee Jae, his wife Ngoc, and her 3 beloved grandchildren, Jaemin, Ailee & Tyken.

Ginnie loved being with friends and singing, laughing, creating beautiful handiwork, enjoying a glass of Bailey’s, sharing a good joke, and engaging in lively political discussions. She delighted in Lee Jae’s accomplishments and adventures through college at UVM, living in Colorado, working as a roofer, bartender, volunteering as a Danville EMT, Army medic in Korea and Fort Lewis, WA, research in Boston (where he met his future wife, Ngoc), medical school at UVM, residency in orthopedics at UCSF in San Francisco and eventually working as an Orthopedic Oncologist in Oakland, CA.

Ginnie leaves her son Lee Jae Morse, M.D., and his wife Ngoc Thi Phan, M.D. of Moraga, California, and their 3 children Jaemin, Ailee, and Tyken Morse. She also leaves her sister, Jo-Ann Wunschel and her husband Frank; nephews Loni Morse, of Jericho, VT., Frankie Wunschel of New York, NY; nieces Loren Labelle of Peabody, MA., Lynne Kemp of Underhill, VT., as well as her great-nieces and nephews. Ginnie shared many happy times with her brother-in-law, Alan Morse, and her varied group of friends.

Ginnie’s memorial service will be held Monday June 1, 2026, at the Danville Town Hall at 9:30am followed by a graveside service at the Danville Cemetery at 11am.

Memories and condolences may be shared with family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com.