Ann Marie Morrison Dula was born December 22, 1931, in Athens, OH, the first child of Lillie Marie Ziegler and James Emmett Morrison. In the summer of 1936, the family moved to Gallipolis, OH, where Ann grew up and attended public schools, graduating from Gallia Academy High School in May 1949.
She earned her B.S. Ed. from Ohio University, Athens, OH, on June 7, 1953. While at Ohio University, she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority and served as Scholarship Chairman and Secretary. Ann met Ralph C. Dula of Warren, OH, a recently discharged soldier in her senior year. Ralph had served with the Army in Korea. Ralph and Ann were married on June 14, 1953, in Gallipolis and moved to Marianna, FL, where Ralph enrolled at Chipola Jr. College on the GI bill. Ann taught business education at Marianna High School. They then moved to Miami, FL, where Ralph transferred to the University of Miami. Ann taught at Miami Jackson High School. Employment moves took them to Fayetteville, NC; Charleston, SC; Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville, FL; Montgomery, AL; Columbia, SC. From there, the family moved to Carmel, IN, where she taught at North Central High School, Indianapolis, IN, and was the first accounting lab coordinator at the J. Everett Light Career Center. She earned her M.A.E. degree with vocational endorsement from Ball State University, Muncie, IN, and was inducted into Delta Pi Epsilon, a national honorary graduate fraternity in business education. From Indiana, they moved to Princeton Jct., NJ; Littleton, CO; Florence, AL; Warren, OH; and finally back to Florence, AL. Ralph and Ann met many wonderful people through the many moves and remained friends. When not teaching, she was employed as an office manager and retired from McFarland & Son Funeral Home, Warren, OH. She and Ralph returned to Florence, AL, for their retired years.
Ann was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Muskingum OH Chapter; Order of Eastern Star Gallipolis, OH; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 11, Florence, AL; and was a life member of the Association for Career and Technical Education and belonged to all local, state, and national education associations when teaching. She and Ralph were members of a Methodist Church wherever they lived.
She was an avid reader and encouraged others to read, especially children. She was also an avid quilter. Ann combined the two hobbies, making over 500 quilts for reading students at Harlan Elementary and Hibbett Middle School. She also gifted her quilts to veterans, family, and friends.
Ann loved and enjoyed the members of her family.
Ann was preceded in death by both parents (Marie and Emmett Morrison); infant daughter, Cathryn Ann Dula; husband, Ralph C. Dula; sister, Elizabeth F. Preston; brother-in-law, John L “Bud” Preston; great-grandson, Liam Daniel Delano Ellis.
The surviving family members are her daughter, Jacqueline Marie Reardon (Daniel), Killen, AL; daughter, Karen Louise Creasy (Danny), Florence, AL; granddaughters, Ellen Louise Ellis (Delano), Gahanna, OH; Katherine Marie Mahany (Matthew), Savannah, GA; twin grandsons, Special Agent Christopher Daniel Reardon (Brittany), Ft. Bragg, NC; Officer Patrick James Reardon (Jessica), Thornton, CO; great-granddaughters, Savannah Marie Ellis and Lucielle Ruth Reardon; great-grandsons, Grady James Mahany, Nolan James Reardon, Aidan James Reardon; brother, James Emmett Morrison II (Mary L.), Gallipolis, OH; along with several nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.
Ann’s quick wit and compassion were evident in everything she did. The world is diminished by her death.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave., Florence, AL 35630, or Bossard Memorial Library, 7 Spruce St., Gallipolis, OH 45631.
Visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Greenview’s chapel on Saturday, November 4, 2023, with service following at 11 a.m.
