Obituary of Lori J. Gilmore-Morris

Lori Jeanne Gilmore-Morris of Wappingers Falls passed away in the afternoon of June 3, 2025 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. She was 60.

Born at Vassar Hospital on October 16, 1964, Lori graduated from Arlington High School in 1982. That same year she won the title of Miss Pleasant Valley. She completed her studies at Dutchess Community College and then went onto Pace University School of Law receiving her Juris Doctorate in 1989.

Lori practiced law in Dutchess County specializing in bankruptcy, wills, real estate and creditor collections. She was once the youngest Chapter 11 trustee in the nation for the Northern and Southern District of New York. Lori formerly worked as an adjunct professor for many years at Dutchess Community College teaching Business and Real Estate Law. Most recently she worked at Dutchess Community College at the admissions desk in their Fishkill office.

She was a long-term member of Wappingers Rotary along with the Dutchess County Bar and worked tirelessly in their fundraising activities. She previously chaired the Pro Bono committee at Dutchess County Bar, received the Jack Economou and New York State Bar Pro Bono awards, was a committee member to nominate the US Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York and chaired the Dutchess County Pace University School of Law Scholarship committee. She was a guest speaker at Marist College and the Highland Chamber of Commerce. Lori and her brother Russ volunteered to raise funds for the Ulster County Board of Realtors creating and helping the realtors play a floor game of Monopoly at Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston. Lori, Russ, and Lori’s sons Luke and Scott performed in a Murder Mystery event along with the Highland Business Association to help bring awareness to the Hamlet.

She was extremely generous in the development of the Highland Landing Park on the Hudson River donating whenever there was an opportunity. Lori loved to have fun with the people around her. She coordinated countless family birthday parties, dinners, graduation ceremonies, card games, trips to casinos, Lake George, and elsewhere. If you happened to mention that you liked peanut butter and chocolate, you could be assured you would have a delivery of her famous peanut butter pie in less than one week. The family will need someone to step up and make her outstanding coleslaw at the next party.

Throughout her entire life journey Lori continually had an upbeat and positive attitude with a degree of energy that could not be matched. When her husband Michael suddenly passed away in 2011, Lori continued to raise the most amazing, kind, and caring sons one could ever hope for. If you knew Lori, you knew she loved Charles Schulz’s Peanuts Comics. She amassed a huge collection of his art and memorabilia to rival the most serious fan of the franchise.

Lori is survived by her two sons, Scott Michael Morris and Luke Joseph Morris, both at home; her mother, Jeanne (Ronk) Gilmore in Pleasant Valley; her brother, Russell Gilmore and his wife, Susan in Highland; her mother-in-law, Pearl (Fusaro) Morris in Wappingers Falls; and her sister-in-law, Marla Morris and her husband, Joseph Sumi of Wappingers Falls. She has one “younger brother,” cousin Richard Downing of Clinton Corners, who remains to this day her kindred spirit. Also surviving are many other cousins, aunts and uncles on both sides of her and her husband’s family, along with several friends and former colleagues. She held her colleagues, friends, and family in very high regard.

She was predeceased by her husband, Michael Morris, her father, Russ Gilmore, Jr. and her father-in-law, Paul Morris.

The Gilmore and Morris families would like to extend their deep appreciation to all the doctors and nurses at Optum, Vassar, Northwell, as well as Memorial Sloan Kettering for the care that she received during her illness which never ever defined who she was as a person.

A celebration of her life will be held at Straub, Catalano and Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the conclusion of visitation at 2:30 p.m. Burial will take place at a later date at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in her memory to American Cancer Society or another organization of your choice.