Reverend Morris Aulden Barss Jr.

Reverend Morris Aulden Barss, Jr.
1932   –   2020


Reverend Morris Aulden Barss, Jr., passed away peacefully at Dykeland Lodge Nursing Home in Windsor, Nova Scotia, on Saturday, April 4, 2020, after a lengthy illness.

Morris is survived by his wife of 61 years Roberta (Zwicker) Barss, Garlands Crossing, NS; daughters, Janet (Donald) Cooper, Wolfville, NS, and Heather (Ken) MacLeod, Halifax, NS; grandsons, Jeremy (Kelly) Cooper, Kentville, NS, Timothy (Nexus) Cooper, Texas, and Mark Cooper, Wolfville, NS; and great-grandson, Gideon Cooper, Texas.

Morris was predeceased by his parents, Morris and Mary (Miller) Barss, formerly of Guysborough County, NS, and by his sister, Mary in infancy.

Morris was born at the Grace Maternity Hospital in Halifax, NS, on June 27, 1932. He grew up in the Halifax area and received his early education in the South Armdale School and received his High School Diploma from Queen Elizabeth High School in 1950. He graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts on May 11, 1954 and Pine Hill Divinity Hall in Halifax, NS, on April 24, 1957. He was then ordained by the Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada on June 16, 1957, the first candidate for the ministry from Bethany United Church, his home church, in Halifax, NS. Prior to ordination he served five summers on student mission fields – Loverna, SK, Bangor, SK, Old Wives, SK, Rapid View, SK, and Lakesend, AB.

Following ordination, Morris served several pastoral charges in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick: New Germany, NS, Kingston, NS, River John, NS, Bayfield, NB, Keswick Ridge, NB, Port Mouton, NS, and St. Croix, NS. In 1989, Morris and Roberta moved to Fletchers Lake, NS, and Morris served as part-time minister at Milford-Gays River-Lantz pastoral charge for four years following his retirement in 1992.

Throughout his ministry, Morris was active in many Presbytery and Conference committees. He was Secretary of the former Annapolis Presbytery, Conference Statistical Secretary, Treasurer of Camp Ta-Wa-Si; Secretary of the Conference Nominating Committee, Conference Fund Committee and the Conference Finance Division; Chairperson of the South Shore Presbytery, a member of the Financial Services of the Maritime Conference and Trustee for the Hunter Church Building Fund. He also served as Treasurer of Truro Presbytery for over 20 years.

In earlier years, Morris was active at Berwick United Church Camp. He operated the sound system at the camp for 47 years. He also carried out a cassette tape ministry by providing tape recordings of the services and programs of the camp. In addition, he produced a music system of tape-recorded hymns played on an organ which was used by several churches in the Maritimes when no organist was available.

Special thanks of appreciation are extended to the Geriatricians and the other team members from the Centre for Health Care of the Elderly at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax and also to the staff of Dykeland Lodge over the last six months.

Arrangements are under the care of the Lindsay Windsor Funeral Home, 194 King Street, PO Box 2218, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0.

Due to health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be no visitation or funeral service. 

A private family interment will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2020, in the Berwick Cemetery, Berwick, Kings County, with the Rev. Ivan Norton officiating.

Donations in memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia or a charity of your choice.

To have your name signed in the Guest Book or to have a donation card placed, please call Lindsay’s at (902) 798-2232.

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