Harold Alexander Duff Morrison, a retired Toronto Police Officer of 34 years, passed away peacefully at 90 years in hospital March 27, 2018. He will be greatly missed by his brother Jim, loving wife Ruth, blessed and loving sons and daughter Dave, Jim (and wife Debby), Barb (and husband Norm) and including grandchildren Paul, Sean, Melissa, Britney, Devin, Bob, Jess and great grandchildren Beatrix, Nolan and Jacob.

A warmer and kinder soul could never be found.

Harold’s Story
Harold came from a large family. Mother, Jane, Dad, Ernest, older brothers Robert, Ernie and sister Edna all emigrated from Belfast Ireland and settled in Toronto, where Harold and younger brother Jim were born. It was a close knit Christian family. Harold also made friends in those early days that he maintained throughout his life. Those years were the root of Harold’s great love of family and friends.
When he was around 10 years old, Harold became extremely ill with pleurisy and pneumonia, It was touch and go and his mother prayed daily at his bedside. During a house call, and fearing the worst, his doctor prescribed a revolutionary new medicine. Harold’s condition improved. His miraculous recovery was the genesis of his own life long faith in the Lord.
Harold got his first job at age 14, working for his best friend’s family business, driving a truck to deliver cement blocks. The local chief of police had to sign to approve his driver’s license. He also worked in a Hardware store, and the owner was so impressed with him that he had his lawyer draft up a Letter of Recognition for Harold.
Harold at age 21 joined the Toronto Police Force rising to the rank of sergeant. He remained there for 34 years, most of which were in the Criminal Investigation Bureau with his last 5 years in the Fraud Squad. For the first 7 years on the force he rode a motorcycle. He rode a Harley all year long, with a sidecar attached in the winter. In the coldest times, people would ask, “How can you stand it?” He would jokingly reply “It’s not bad since they installed the heaters.” Many years later, long after he retired, he would still roll down the window on his car to enjoy that distinctive rumble when a Harley would pass by. After retiring from the force, Harold spent five more years working in data centre security for the Bank of Montreal.
A few years after joining the police force, Harold married Violet Yeomans. They and their 3 children, Dave, Jim and Barb lived in North York before moving to Thornhill in 1970. Summers were spent at the Lake. First at a cottage on Lake Simcoe owned by his mother and older brother Robert and his wife, Audrey and then at a cottage on Moon River in Muskoka that Vi and Harold bought for the family. As years passed, no matter where anyone was, they would be sure to gather for Harold’s birthday in August at the cottage. The cottage remained in the family until two years ago when it was finally sold. Harold loved the cottage and loved being on the water, loved being there with family and friends, loved being there with his children and grandchildren.
After 46 wonderful years together, Vi passed away in 1996. Harold was fortunate that he met two other special women to share his life with. He met Jean Durrant peeling potatoes for a Church dinner and they were married for 7 years before her passing. He knew Ruth Bradshaw from Church and used to see her when he took his long walks around Swan Lake. Ruth and Harold have been married for the last ten years. It will be lonely for Ruth without him. We pray that she will be comforted by the years they shared together.
A warmer and kinder soul could never be found …….an apt way to describe Harold. He was always there when needed, with calm wisdom and support, and he would go out of his way to help anyone. He will be dearly missed, by all his family and many friends.