Anne B. Morley

Anne Berentson Morley passed away on October 31, 2021, at an assisted living facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her daughter Linda was with her when she passed. Anne died of challenges associated with Parkinson’s disease. She had been battling Parkinson’s bravely for many years walking on her own up until the last few months.  She had more she wanted to do in life, all involving spending time with family and friends, but the last year of her life was particularly difficult.  So, in the end, she was ready to go. We miss her terribly but know she is now in a better place.

Anne was born January 20, 1938, in Oak Park, Illinois. She was the daughter of Katharine Fletcher Sitton Berentson and Benjamin Hill Berentson. Her parents and her brother John Berentson preceded her in death. She is survived by her sisters Susan Berentson Thompson and Jane Whitney Berentson and her children Katharine (Ceit) Hill Morley, Linda Murdock Morley, and John (Jack) Benjamin Morley.

One of Anne’s passions in life was music. She sang in many choruses throughout her life. She met her husband, Barry Wilson Morley, while singing in a high school chorus. She loved to tell the story that for one rehearsal, the piano accompanist was not able to attend. Barry asked if anyone in the chorus could play piano, and Anne’s friends all pointed to her. Anne was thrilled to be able to fake her way through the rehearsal. At the end of the session, Barry said if she learned 3 Mozart concertos, he would marry her. She went home and began practicing immediately.

Anne was a beloved teacher. Her first position was at Westtown Friends School in Pennsylvania. After a few years at Westtown, she and Barry were offered positions at a school opening in 1961, and so they were part of the founding faculty members of Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS) where Anne taught for 34 years. Anne and Barry developed and taught the innovative 9th grade program, and Anne always said how she loved the 9th graders the best. After SSFS, Anne taught a few more years at both the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore and Thornton Friends School in Silver Spring, Maryland. She loved being a teacher wherever she was.

After teaching, Anne spent many years traveling through-out the United States.  She traveled primarily by driving around in her RV. She loved traveling this way, enjoying time on her own and with family and friends. She spent uncountable hours doing what she loved which included bird watching, visiting baseball parks, and visiting national and state parks. When not traveling, Anne enjoyed several passions. She spent time in her garden, where she particularly enjoyed her myriad of daffodils, and she enjoyed watching the birds at her bird feeder which included her favorites the blue birds that nested in her bird houses. She also loved time with family and friends, especially savoring time with her beloved grandchildren, Victoria (Tori) Berentson Pringle, Nicholas (Cal) Johnston Pringle, Raina Marie Morley, and Carina Katherine Morley. 

Anne recognized and appreciated the wonderful, full life she had. Her life was rich with family and friends. Thank you to all who were a part of it.

A memorial Meeting for Worship will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Sandy Spring Meeting House. The following virtual access is available for those who cannot be there with us in person:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87064699937?pwd=NVJ2Rkp6OGlEeWdrdXhTRjZmTEh1UT09
Meeting ID: 870 6469 9937
Passcode: 5V872K

*** The family request you omit flowers, and make contributions to the organizations listed below: ***
In lieu of flowers, Anne would have appreciated donations to Sandy Spring Friends School, the Nature Conservancy, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, or the Parkinson’s Foundation. 

Please feel free to share memories of Anne at www.molesworthwilliams.com

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