SPRUCE HEAD — Elroy J. “Roy” Morris, 91, died April 9, 2016, at PenBay Medical Center in Rockport, after a brief illness.

Born in Advocate Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada, on Jan. 17, 1925, he was the son of Johnson S. and Agnes J. Morris Morris. He attended school through the 10th-grade. In 1942, Roy moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he attended Nova Scotia Tech for three months before beginning accelerated studies at Dalhousie University in that city.

He moved to Montreal, where he worked on the Manhattan Project and development of the atomic bomb.

After moving to the United States in 1945, Roy had hopes of becoming a merchant marine; but was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly after receiving citizenship. He served two years in the Army, where he served as skipper aboard an Army tug, which in reality was a general’s yacht.

Following his discharge, Roy returned to New York, where he worked with Spentenbush Fuel Transportation Company, as a deckhand aboard coastal tankers. While aboard those ships, he met and was recruited by personnel from the Sperry Corporation, and electronics/gyroscope manufacturing company in New York. Roy worked with that company as a machinist/foreman from 1949 to 1980.

While on a ski trip in upstate New York, Roy met Therese E. Schad. They married seven years later, on Aug. 31, 1957, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Stephentown, N.Y. The couple resided in Freeport, Long Island, N.Y. After retirement in 1980, the couple moved to Patten Point, where they built a new home, and became part of the close-knit Patten Point neighborhood.

Since moving to Spruce Head, Roy has been an integral part of the Patten Point/Spruce Head community. He was always willing to help anyone who needed anything built, repaired or invented. His machinist training gave Roy abilities that were sought after by many, but when asked how much he would charge, Roy's response was always, "I work for 25 cents an hour." Roy was a dedicated and active member of the Spruce Head Community Hall & Historical Association for 35 years, serving as a trustee and member of the building committee. He donated his time and expertise to many projects at the Hall, including improved lighting, furnace maintenance and the recent moving of the building to a new foundation. He was a member of the Wessaweskeag Historical Society, and an avid member of the Snow Owls Snowmobile Club.

When they first moved to Spruce Head, they began snowmobiling with friends. With that group they expanded their winter travels to the Moosehead area, where they forged many new trails. As the organized trail system advanced, Roy took pleasure in mapping on his GPS, trails he had originally made through the wild.

In addition to his parents; and a sister, Phyllis Mills; Roy was predeceased by his beloved wife, Terry on Jan. 19 of this year. He is survived by a nephew, John Mills and his wife, Claudia, of New Jersey; a cousin, Dorothy Sibley of Florida; friends whom Roy considered as family, Douglas and Laura McLennan and their family of Spruce Head, Ray and Pam Sleeper and their Family of South Thomaston, and Bud and Maureen Collins of Advocate Harbor, Nova Scotia; as well as several extended family members and many friends.

Friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, April 13, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland, where a service will begin at 4 p.m. The Rev. Chris Noland will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in Advocate, Nova Scotia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Spruce Head Community Hall & Historical Association, P.O. Box 323, Spruce Head, ME 04859.