Diana Louise Morse
“Life is One Big Adventure, or Nothing”
August 13, 1925 – August 7, 2024
Long time West Lake Hills resident, Louise Morse passed on August 7, 2024. Diana Louise Morse was born August 13, 1925 to Cecile and Joe B. Morse in Copperas Cove, Texas. She spent her young life on a ranch in rural Texas and always considered herself a country girl. In her late teens Louise moved to Austin and began a 35-year career in freelance court reporting. She started her own court reporting business, Louise Morse and Associates, and worked until her retirement in 1990. In 1989 she formed Louise Morse Investments which she actively managed until her death.
Louise was an avid sportswoman (jock). She scuba dived many waters including Belize and the Great Barrier Reef, climbed the Himalayas not once but twice, rode a bicycle across China, fished in the jungles of Nicaragua, rode horses and kayaked through Outer Mongolia and Nepal. She went bungee jumping for her 66th birthday and made several skydiving trips to celebrate her 80th birthday. Louse was an active golfer into her late 80’s. She adored the mountains and had a second home in Taos, NM where she skied each winter. She enjoyed sharing her home and “her” mountains with friends and family any time of the year. She played bridge and was always excited to teach beginners. Louise had season tickets to the Lady Longhorns, and we all knew not to disturb her during Dallas Cowboys games. She instructed most friends not to visit between 2-4 on summer afternoons because she would be swimming or sunning in her birthday suit. She enjoyed her pool and daily swim as much as she enjoyed reading the paper and drinking coffee in bed.
Louise believed that if you could make a difference, you should make a difference. She made time for charities and philanthropic work, including being a board member for Conspirare, raising money for multiple sclerosis by riding a bicycle in the MS150 from Houston to Austin, and travelling to Vietnam with Global Volunteers to build kindergarten classrooms. Among the many charities Louise supported are the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Animal Trustees of Austin (now Emancipet), ASPCA, Hospice Austin, PETA, Mercy Corps, and the Human Rights Campaign both locally and nationally. She was an original supporter of Foundation Communities Austin which provides housing for Austin residents in need. She spent several “vacations” in Washington, D.C. lobbying for equal rights.
Very close to Louise’s heart was her church and her relationship with God. In 1973 Louise helped found the Westlake United Methodist Church and in 2018 was instrumental in Westlake Methodist’s move to becoming an inclusive church. When she came out to her church, Louise finally felt that she “belonged to the church and the church belonged to her”.
Louise was preceded in death by her longtime partner, Hilda (Hillary) Morris, her parents, her brothers Joe, CL, Bruce, and her sister Rae. Louise is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, a host of friends, and her loving cat, Ebony.
The family and friends of Louise would like to thank Rita Holmes for her dedication and the joy that she brought to Louise the last year of her life.
You are welcome to share in a memorial service for Louise on the bridge at Remembrance Gardens on Friday, August 16th at 10:00am. Donations can be sent to WUMC, 1460 Redbud Trail, West Lake, TX 78746, or Emancipet Austin, 7010 Easy Wind Drive #260, Austin, TX 78752.