In Memory Of
Georgiana Sewell Morrill
1927
2023
Georgiana Sewell Morrill
January 12, 1927 — December 2, 2023
Georgiana S. Morrill died peacefully on Saturday, December 2, 2023 with family at her side. While her birthday reflects a remarkable 96 years, her wit, memory, spirit, sense of humor, giant smile, and twinkle in her eye always refused to act their age. Georgiana was born to Mallie and Glen Sewell on January 12, 1927 in Sabetha, Kansas. Although her childhood was marked by the great depression, she forever felt that growing up in a small town was the best thing ever imagined.
Georgiana graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Sabetha High School and went on to the University of Kansas where she studied to become an occupational therapist. She joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority where she met older members Frances ("Francie") and Mary Morrill from Hiawatha, Kansas. They quickly encouraged their younger brother Edmund ("Ed") to ask this darling new Kappa to be his date to his Phi Delta Theta formal. Georgiana first encouraged a "Coca-Cola date" at the local soda foundation to ensure they would enjoy each other's company. And that they did. Several years later, in 1949, they married and moved to Kansas City where Ed had accepted a job with Hallmark cards. Over the next decade, their family grew with the births of David (1950), Thomas (1952), Curtis (1954) and Ann (1960). Ed's career moved them first to Emporia, Kansas, and eventually to Topeka where Ed accepted a job with Capital Federal Bank where he enjoyed a 35-year career.
Georgiana's Topeka life was filled to the brim. In addition to raising four children, Georgiana was an incredible volunteer and leader who served in countless roles over the years such as President of the Junior League of Topeka, a charter member and board chair of the Mulvane Women's Group, a 30+ year member of the Topeka French Club, the secretary of the Ward-Meade Group, a docent at Cedar Crest, a volunteer and co-chair of the annual benefit tea for Meals on Wheels, the President of the Kansas chapter P.E.O, President of Western Sorosis, and President of the Kappa Corporation Board. She and her husband Ed belonged to First Congregational Church and enjoyed sports and friendships as longtime members of the Topeka Country Club (where Georgiana had not one, but two hole-in-ones!). For over 20 years, she could also be seen most mornings with her neighborhood pals known as the "Knollwood Walkers" before she moved to Brewster Place.
Georgiana and Ed spent their summers in Grand Lake, Colorado. They were longtime members of the Grand Lake Yacht Club, where Ed served as Commodore in the early 1990s. Georgiana was heartbroken to lose Ed, her lifelong love, to Alzheimer's in 2011. Despite her loss, she continued to bring her love, sense of humor, and gentle nature to everyone she encountered. For the past twelve years, Georgiana has been surrounded by her friends, children, grandchildren, and thirteen (!) great-grandchildren ages 1-16.
In addition to her husband Ed, she was preceded in death by her brothers David and Glen Sewell, her son Thomas Needham Morrill, and a grandson, Charles Buffum Jr. She leaves behind her children and their spouses David and Stephanie Morrill, Curt and Karen Morrill, and Ann and Charles Buffum, and her daughter-in-law Kim Morrill, along with her grandchildren Dr. Carrie Morrill married to Eric Stonebraker, David Morrill, Matt Morrill married to Lacy Morrill, Scott Morrill, Brooke Morrill Borgen married to Jon-Erik Borgen, Dr. Mary Morrill Chuba married to Ted Chuba, Hanna Morrill Rich married to Aaron Rich, Molly Morrill Ingalls married to Ben Ingalls, Mallie Buffum and Sam Buffum and her great-grandchildren: Freja and Carsten Stonebraker, Ilsa, Greta, and Sonja Borgen, Sydney and JJ Chuba, Georgiana, Vera, and John Everett Rich, Eleanor and Emerson Ingalls, and June Morrill.
The family plans to celebrate Georgiana while they gather for the Christmas holidays and will announce a more formal service and celebration of life at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her memory may be sent to:
First Congregational Church, 1701 SW Collins Ave, Topeka, KS 66604
Alzheimer's Association, 4125 SW Gage Center Dr., Topeka, KS 66604
Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, PO Box 1682 Grand Lake, CO 80447
Georgiana graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Sabetha High School and went on to the University of Kansas where she studied to become an occupational therapist. She joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority where she met older members Frances ("Francie") and Mary Morrill from Hiawatha, Kansas. They quickly encouraged their younger brother Edmund ("Ed") to ask this darling new Kappa to be his date to his Phi Delta Theta formal. Georgiana first encouraged a "Coca-Cola date" at the local soda foundation to ensure they would enjoy each other's company. And that they did. Several years later, in 1949, they married and moved to Kansas City where Ed had accepted a job with Hallmark cards. Over the next decade, their family grew with the births of David (1950), Thomas (1952), Curtis (1954) and Ann (1960). Ed's career moved them first to Emporia, Kansas, and eventually to Topeka where Ed accepted a job with Capital Federal Bank where he enjoyed a 35-year career.
Georgiana's Topeka life was filled to the brim. In addition to raising four children, Georgiana was an incredible volunteer and leader who served in countless roles over the years such as President of the Junior League of Topeka, a charter member and board chair of the Mulvane Women's Group, a 30+ year member of the Topeka French Club, the secretary of the Ward-Meade Group, a docent at Cedar Crest, a volunteer and co-chair of the annual benefit tea for Meals on Wheels, the President of the Kansas chapter P.E.O, President of Western Sorosis, and President of the Kappa Corporation Board. She and her husband Ed belonged to First Congregational Church and enjoyed sports and friendships as longtime members of the Topeka Country Club (where Georgiana had not one, but two hole-in-ones!). For over 20 years, she could also be seen most mornings with her neighborhood pals known as the "Knollwood Walkers" before she moved to Brewster Place.
Georgiana and Ed spent their summers in Grand Lake, Colorado. They were longtime members of the Grand Lake Yacht Club, where Ed served as Commodore in the early 1990s. Georgiana was heartbroken to lose Ed, her lifelong love, to Alzheimer's in 2011. Despite her loss, she continued to bring her love, sense of humor, and gentle nature to everyone she encountered. For the past twelve years, Georgiana has been surrounded by her friends, children, grandchildren, and thirteen (!) great-grandchildren ages 1-16.
In addition to her husband Ed, she was preceded in death by her brothers David and Glen Sewell, her son Thomas Needham Morrill, and a grandson, Charles Buffum Jr. She leaves behind her children and their spouses David and Stephanie Morrill, Curt and Karen Morrill, and Ann and Charles Buffum, and her daughter-in-law Kim Morrill, along with her grandchildren Dr. Carrie Morrill married to Eric Stonebraker, David Morrill, Matt Morrill married to Lacy Morrill, Scott Morrill, Brooke Morrill Borgen married to Jon-Erik Borgen, Dr. Mary Morrill Chuba married to Ted Chuba, Hanna Morrill Rich married to Aaron Rich, Molly Morrill Ingalls married to Ben Ingalls, Mallie Buffum and Sam Buffum and her great-grandchildren: Freja and Carsten Stonebraker, Ilsa, Greta, and Sonja Borgen, Sydney and JJ Chuba, Georgiana, Vera, and John Everett Rich, Eleanor and Emerson Ingalls, and June Morrill.
The family plans to celebrate Georgiana while they gather for the Christmas holidays and will announce a more formal service and celebration of life at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her memory may be sent to:
First Congregational Church, 1701 SW Collins Ave, Topeka, KS 66604
Alzheimer's Association, 4125 SW Gage Center Dr., Topeka, KS 66604
Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, PO Box 1682 Grand Lake, CO 80447
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Georgiana Sewell Morrill, please visit our flower store.
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