George Fischer Morse

July 30, 1947 – September 19, 2026

A very unique person was the first-born son of William Morse and Thedora Doris Pulone. They named him George Fischer, a name chosen from the paternal side of the family. He learned to love fishing and all sports from his father, who sadly died when George was 10 years old. Graduating from the prestigious St. Luke’s School in Connecticut, George ventured out to the University of Denver for a few years and after a stint at NMSU earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from UNM. His family had moved to the Española Valley in 1968 where George helped plant bountiful gardens and added fruit trees to the old orchard. He drove buses for the Shuttlejack company of Santa Fe for many years, always taking time to write outdoors themed articles and spend countless hours of fun with his nieces and nephews. Perhaps his most famous stint, however, was as the sports reporter for Northern New Mexico for the Rio Grande Sun. His fair, insightful and knowledgeable coverage of many sports from Little League to Senior Olympics (which he also participated in) filled the pages of the weekly newspaper-often the major reason people would buy it! His weekly column “Morse Code” had many followers. Up until the time of his death, he continued to write, submitting a weekly fishing report to the online Los Alamos Daily Post.

George was pre-deceased by his loving parents, his beloved brother Daniel Fessler (named from the maternal side of the family), cherished Aunt and Uncle Dodo and Henry Francis and stepfather JM Stevenson. He is survived by his devoted sister Edith Gibbs (maternal and paternal side names) and her husband Cecil Brown; nieces and nephews Kimberly (Philip) Jongejan, Rachel Morse, Michelangelo Morse (fiancée Amanda), Susan Morse (Jeff), Cecilia (Joey) Brown Baldanado, Godson Lydell (Sara) Brown, and Gabriel (Tonya) Brown. And their children: Maddie, Annika and Lee Jongejan; Brittany, Jared and Jace Garduño; Skylar Morse; Andres (fiancée Miranda), Isaac (Anna) and Emilee Maestas; Laila and Kodi Rodriguez; Verona, Meredith, William and Madison Brown; and Gabriella and Tarance Brown. And the great-greats: Weston Hatch, Kasey Maestas, Lila Maestas, and expected baby Maestas. Recently added to the family are Joey’s daughters Mya, Alysha and Brooklyn.

George is also survived by his loving sister-in-law Tina and husband Rudy Lujan who were blessings to him in his later years, Ben Rodriguez who took him hunting, and special friends Eddie and Carmen Campos, as well as many extended family members and friends, and the plethora of athletes he encouraged and supported for many years, following them all over the state of New Mexico.

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff of Los Alamos Medical Center, especially Drs. Gutierrez and Nigam and nurses Dan, Beverly, Nick and Karen, who tenderly cared for him and the family. Niece Sara provided love and professional care for our Uncle Jorge, just as she had done for our dear Pakey. George was surrounded by love when his big heart gave out and he crossed the bridge to eternity.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for October 25 1pm at Rivera Family Funeral Home in Española and his ashes will be spread per his wishes by family members in Southern Colorado.