James Richard Morrissey, Jr. LCDR, USN (ret)

James Richard Morrissey, Jr., LCDR, USN (ret), 86, of Homosassa, FL., passed away on Wed., June 15, 2016 at his home. A native of Babylon, NY, he was born July 10, 1929 to James Sr. and Eileen Mary Ellen (Hunt) Morrissey, one of four children. James served his country proudly first as an enlisted sailor and then as an commissioned officer in the United States Navy for nearly 27 years, serving at numerous duty stations, and retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His career spanned much of the Cold War and included service aboard the USS John King (DDG-3) as part of blockade operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, and as the First Lieutenant for the first deployment of the USS Seattle (AOE-3) to the U.S. Sixth Fleet in 1970. After retirement from the Navy, Jim, as he was known to many, obtained his Merchant Mariners license and served on ships operating in the US and overseas for a number of years. Mr. Morrissey’s professional career also included a period with Sperry Corporation in Largo. He moved to Homosassa 16 years ago from Palm Harbor, FL and had lived in Pinellas County since the early 1970’s. Jim owned his own sailboat and enjoyed his position earlier in life as a ferry boat captain transporting passengers between Dunedin, Fl and Caladesi Island State Park. Mr. Morrissey was of the Roman Catholic faith and is survived by his loving wife of 16 years, Lucile Morrissey, Homosassa, FL; his five children: Kevin Morrissey, CAPT, USN (ret) and his wife Becky, Middletown, R.I.; Noreen Prescott, Oldsmar, FL; Sean Morrissey, Clearwater, FL; The Honorable Mary Handsel and her husband Greg, Palm Harbor, FL and Patrick Morrissey and his wife Jennifer, Atlantic Beach, FL; daughter-in-law Diane Morrissey, Texas; stepchildren Danielle Christensen and her husband Robert, Homosassa, FL; Michelle Thompson, Holiday, Fl and Justin LaRue, Tarpon Springs, FL; brothers William Morrissey and his wife Glavis, Holtsville, NY and Thomas Morrissey, Manchester Center, VT; sister-in-law Marilyn Morrissey, Vermont; grandchildren William, Kathleen, Mary, Corey and Sean Patrick Morrissey; Emily and T.J. Handsel; stepgrandchildren Kalynn, Abigail and Emma Christensen; Jacqueline Juska, Devin Brannon and Maggie LaRue. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Joan (Grover) Morrissey, on April 17, 1996; children William, Michael and Donald Morrissey and a brother, John Morrissey. A celebration of Mr. Morrissey’s life will be held on Fri., July 8, 2016 at 11:30 A.M. from Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, FL. Interment with military honors will follow at 2:30 P.M. at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, FL. www.wilderfuneral.com