Obituary: Wade Thompson Morse
March 24, 1940 – November 13, 2023
DUXBURY – A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 2 p.m. at the Duxbury Corner Cemetery (5977 Vermont Rt. 100, adjacent to Holy Cross Cemetery) to celebrate the life of Wade Thompson Morse.
Wade Thompson Morse, courtesy photo
A lifelong resident of Duxbury, Morse, 82, passed away at Chestnut Place in Berlin on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. Born in Burlington, on March 24, 1940, he was the son of the late Ralph C. and Sylvia M. (Goad) Morse. He was previously married to Maxine “Mickey” F. (Fernandez) Rouelle. On Oct. 29, 1982, he married Susan Ann (DeForge) Thayer in Waterbury who predeceased him on Dec. 26, 2016.
A 1958 graduate of Waterbury High School, Wade in his youth served on the Sugarbush ski patrol where he fell in love with skiing. He started his working career owning and operating several local service stations in Waterbury.
In his early 20s, Wade proudly raced his own car, “Number 62,” at Thunder Road in Barre. Before founding his own automotive repair business, Wade's Auto Service, at the corner of Routes 2 and 100 in Moretown, he worked as a deputy sheriff for the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. As a lifelong entrepreneur, he founded Mountain Valley Enterprises and owned and operated many other small businesses over the years under it. His last venture was owning and operating an Arnold’s Bread route for several years. Upon selling, Wade continued to work at the bakery, dropping in the office until health issues prevented him from continuing.
Wade served in the Vermont Army National Guard and was a member of the Waterbury Rotary Club. He also served the community of Duxbury as town moderator for 32 years, following his father’s 30 years of service. Wade was elected to the town Board of Selectmen and worked as the road foreman in the early to mid-1980s. In his leisure time, he enjoyed brook fishing, maintaining his property, and had a love for animals that started as a young boy with his farm animals, then later with his many cats and dogs. Wade loved to read all the local newspapers, often with WDEV on in the background.
Wade is survived by his children, Wendy Welch and her husband Jim, of Duxbury, and Eric Morse of Berlin; his stepchildren Nicole Thayer of Duxbury, Michael Thayer and his wife, Jennifer, of Barre; seven grandchildren Caleb, Courtney, Deseriee, Connor, Cody, Madison and Jaiden; two great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law Gerald Marshall of Duxbury; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Wade was predeceased by a sister, Barbara Marshall.
For those who wish, memorial gifts in Wade's name may be made to the Central Vermont Humane Society, P.O. Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601 or online at centralvermonthumane.org. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences, please visit perkinsparker.com.