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Howard George Morry
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Howard
George Morry
Born: 14 Dec. 1934
Ferryland, Nfld.
Married: 9 Nov. 1957
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Go to Children
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Go to Photo
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Mary
Perpetua Carroll
Born: 05 Jan. 1930
Outer Cove, Nfld.
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Howard George and Mary Perpetua (Carroll) Morry's wedding
Maintaining the Morry
Tradition in Farming Not many
people think of Newfoundland and Agriculture in the same sentence. Yet it is a
fact that the earliest settlers, back to the time of Lord Baltimore's settlement
in Ferryland, found ways to draw a livelihood from the sparse soil and
unpredictable weather of this harsh but beautiful land. In the Morry family too
there is an old tradition of farming that dates back many generations. For as
much as the family drew most of its wealth in days gone by from the fishery and
the shipping and trade activities surrounding the fishery, in this remote part
of the world it was essential to grow and raise the main staples upon which a
healthy and stable society depends. Thomas
Graham Morry, Howard's grandfather, was well known for his ability to produce
bounty from the land. The Morry farm in Ferryland was established on land well
away from the shore to take full advantage of the shelter and what soil there
was available in that region. Growing
Up In Ferryland
As a young boy, Howard George learned from his
own father, Howard Leopold the basic skills of the farmer and was immediately
captivated by the whole idea of producing bounty from the land rather than the
ocean, as were most boys of his age in that region. Thus began a lifetime of
involvement in agriculture. 
Induction
into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame, October 2005 Howard's
lifetime of involvement in agriculture, including his 35 year career with the
Federal Department of Agriculture's Research Station in St. John's and his work
as the President of the Sheep Producer's Association of Newfoundland and
Labrador, not to mention his own remarkable successes in farming in Kilbride,
all came to be recognised publicly in October 2005 for the contribution that he
had made to Newfoundland and Canada when he was inducted into the Atlantic
Agricultural Hall of Fame. The words in his citation issued at that time can
perhaps capture best this lifetime of achievements:
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Howard
G. Morry
Newfoundland
and
Labrador
Howard
George Morry has been involved with the agricultural industry his
entire life, having grown up on a mixed farm in Ferryland, NL. After
several years working in
Ontario
in the
early 1950s, Mr. Morry attended
Nova Scotia
Agricultural
College
graduating in 1955 with a diploma in Agriculture. He has spent much of
his working life with Agriculture and
Agri-Food
Canada
(1955-1990) where he was entrusted with the care of the Newfoundland
Local Sheep Flock at the
St.
John’s
Research Station in addition to his duties in agronomy, soils and
entomology. In his 35 year service, he was recognized as a
knowledgeable and trusted employee who could be depended on to
complete the assigned tasks. He has farmed continuously, returning to
full-time farming following retirement in 1990.
Mr.
Morry was President of the Sheep Producers Association of Newfoundland
and Labrador (SPANL) from 1994-2000 and from 2002-2005. Under his
leadership the Association developed a sheep strategy for the province
to further develop the industry. His countless hours of work on this
were done without monetary compensation but with the satisfaction of
knowing that the strategy would help all sheep farmers. Mr. Morry has
ensured that training has been available for all sheep farmers. He has
overseen seminars on lambing, flock health, coyote prevention and
control, secondary processing and many other topics with serious
implications for the advancement of the industry. In his tenure as
President, the Association has achieved financial stability and
membership has increased dramatically. Mr. Morry is recognized as the
voice of the small farmer and he is constantly battling for the rights
of the small producer whether it is sheep or another commodity.
Mr.
Morry has worked and continues to work, with industry on the
preservation and conservation of Newfoundland Local Sheep. He is asked
by industry to work on registration and tattooing of animals and
undertakes this work without hesitation or compensation. He has been
on the Newfoundland Local Sheep Steering Committee since its inception
in 1990. His knowledge of the history of this unique animal is valued
by all who are interested in the preservation of
Newfoundland
heritage.
Howard
has worked tirelessly with government to deal with the threat that
coyotes pose to the sheep industry. He devotes many hours of volunteer
time to the Coyote Control Committee.
Mr.
Morry has been a valuable source of information and advice to new
farmers, government and industry. He is respected for his tireless
work for the sheep industry as well as his honest and straightforward
views. His industry presentations at the
Newfoundland
and
Labrador Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meetings are often
the highlight for observers. He is known for speaking from the heart
and is appreciative of any efforts farmers, government or individuals
make to help his industry.
Howard
and his wife Mary raised their eight children in Kilbride.
Nominated
by the Sheep Producers Association of Newfoundland and Labrador in
recognition of his contribution to agriculture in Newfoundland and
Labrador, Mr. Morry is worthy for induction into the Atlantic
Agricultural Hall of Fame.
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Induction Date: 2005
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The Association
that he helped to build and has represented since its inception, the Sheep
Producers Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, nominated Howard for this
distinction. Here is the text of that Recommendation.
Howard's achievements were
further recognised by the Minister of Natural Resources in Newfoundland:
Kilbride Man Honoured
October 28, 2005
Natural Resources Minister Ed Byrne is congratulating Howard Morry of Kilbride
who was inducted into the Atlantic
Agriculture Hall of Fame in Truro, Nova Scotia yesterday. Morry has worked
in the industry his entire life, growing up on a farm in Ferryland and retiring
from Agriculture and Agri-Foods
Canada
in 1990.
Recent
Media Reports on Howard's Farming and Some Innovations He Has Introduced This
article by Barb Sweet appeared in the Evening Telegram in July,
2011:  And
more recently, in November 2011, Chris Hodder penned another article, this time
in the Downhome magazine appeared: 
Praise
comes in other forms too. Here is a poem written in Howard's honour by one of
the many sheep farmers he has helped along, Jennifer Decker.
Dedicated
to my dear and unlikely friend, Howard Morry Sr. But for our shared love of
sheep and Newfoundland we never would have met in this lifetime. Thank you for
your lifelong commitment to the sheep and shepherds in our province. God bless
you always.
The Island Sheep
By Jennifer Decker
Roddickton, Newfoundland
In
Newfoundland 100 years ago
When the winters were
long and dressed in snow
The farmer was called
the fisherman
Men were called b’ys
and them boys was men.
Sheep in the sheds on
back of the house
Survived off nothing but
snow and brouse.
They waited for spring
’round the end of May
When the ice pans would
melt or float back out the bay.
The fishermen came and
sang out “Come Nan.”
Sheep knew them well and
to them they ran.
The men walked them down
to the salt beach
With a boot in his punt,
a fellow stretched back to reach.
Then the man on the land
lifted each sheep
To the man in the boat
on the ocean deep.
One by one every sheep
was passed
Into the wooden punt
until at last
There were no sheep left
on that shore
And the little boat
couldn’t hold any more.
The b’ys pushed the
boat off the beach rock
And launched that boat
with the fisherman’s flock.
One buddy in the bow,
one buddy was rowing.
The sheep looked ahead
to where they were going
To the island of grass
surrounded by shore,
Their green island home
every summer before.
The sheep got carried
every spring over water
Like them fishermen’s
grandfather’s grandfather’s father.
But time changes life,
100 years swept that shore.
That island’s still
there but sheep don’t live there no more.
Years washed through
harbours like waves in the storms.
They hit hard and strong
and came in all forms.
Time carried away the
boats, the b’ys and the men,
Along with the way
things always had been.
Now sheep don’t be
floated and carried over the sea,
To their summer’s
island home where they used to be.
Time melted Newfoundland
sheep from the bay.
Like ice pans in the
harbour ’round the end of May.
Here is an article that appeared in the En
Route magazine found on Air Canada in February 2012. The demand for Uncle
Howard's lamb at upscale restaurants is one measure of its high quality.
Air Canada - En Route March 2012
Food & Drink
Amazing Graze
The bleating best lamb in Canada has diners flocking to St.
John's, Newfoundland.
BY SARAH MUSGRAVE
Despite this fame and recognition that came perhaps
later in life than ought to have been the case, anyone who knows Howard will
tell you that
what gives him the greatest pride is the family that he and his wife Mary have
raised.
Howard and Mary Morrys Family ca 1982
Rear:
Howie and Gerard 2nd
Row: Keith, Brenda and Sandra 3rd
Row: Phyllis and Mary Front
Row: Jamie, Howard and Jeannie
Children of Howard George Morry
and Mary Perpetua Carroll
| Name |
Born |
Place |
Married |
Spouse |
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Morry, Gerard Walter
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16 Oct 1958 |
Kilbride, Nfld. |
06 Dec 1985
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Carter, Michele |
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Morry, Brenda Marie Fredris |
15 Oct 1959 |
Kilbride, Nfld. |
26 Jul 1986 |
Fillier, Russell Donald |
| Morry, Jamie Francis * |
04 Feb 1962 |
Kilbride, Nfld. |
12 May 1990 |
Clarke, Karen Louise |
| Morry, Sandra Ann |
15 Dec 1963 |
Kilbride, Nfld. |
12 Aug 1995 |
Lushman, Derek |
| Morry, Howard Ian |
31 Aug 1965 |
Kilbride, Nfld. |
21 Aug 1992 |
Woodfine, Jacqueline Leslie |
| Morry, Keith Joseph |
03 Nov 1966 |
Kilbride, Nfld. |
08 Oct 1994 |
King, Karen Ida Lynn |
| Morry, Phyllis Mary |
30 Jan 1969 |
Kilbride, Nfld. |
12 Aug 2006 |
St. Croix, Bernie |
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Morry, Jeannie Catherine
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12 Aug 1972 |
Kilbride, Nfld.
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2000
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Reddy, Michael George Edward
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* Jamie Morry died of cancer, Nov. 13, 1999. See In
Memoriam
Children of Gerard Morry and Michele Carter
| Name |
Born |
Place |
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Morry, Bradley Alfred
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18 Apr 1981
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??
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Morry, Blaine Matthew
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04 May 1987
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??
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| Morry, Clark Michael |
04 Mar 1990 |
?? |
  
Michele, Clark and Blaine, 2002
Children of Brenda Morry and Russell Fillier
| Name |
Born |
Place |
| Fillier, Christopher Gordon |
29 Nov 1992 |
?? |
| Fillier, Meghan Mary |
23 Sep 1998 |
?? |
Christopher and Meghan, 2002
Children of Jamie Morry and Karen Clark
| Name |
Born |
Place |
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Morry, Kirsten Mary
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16 Feb 1991
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St. John's, NL
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Morry, Jeanie Margaret
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23 Sep 1992
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St. John's, NL
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| Morry, Alicia Kathryn |
13 Jul 1994 |
St. John's, NL |
Jamie and family, ca 1995
Children of Sandra Ann Morry and Derek Lushman
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Name
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Born
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Place
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Lushman, Mark Ronald
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26 Jul 1999
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St. John's, NL
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Lushman, Katelyn Mary |
25 Sep 2005 |
St. John's, NL |
Sandra and Mark 2002
Children of Howard Morry and Jacqueline Woodfine
| Name |
Born |
Place |
| Morry, Matthew Alexander |
23 Sep 1992 |
St. John's, NL |
| Morry, James Andrew |
18 Oct 1999 |
St. John's, NL |
Matthew and group Gan Ainm
Children of Keith Morry and Karen King
| Name |
Born |
Place |
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Morry, Shannon Laura
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13 Feb 1997
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St. John's, NL |
Morry, Erin Mary
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31 Aug 1998
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St. John's, NL |
| Morry, Liam Keith Joseph |
10 May 2004 |
St. John's, NL |
Shannon and Erin, 2003
Children of Jeannie Morry and Michael Reddy
| Name |
Born |
Place |
| Reddy, Michael Jamie |
11 Oct 2000 |
St. John's, NL |
| Reddy, Kathleen Mary |
24 Sep 2003 |
St. John's, NL |
Jeannie and Michael
Children of Phyllis Morry and
Bernie St. Croix 
| Name |
Born |
Place |
| St. Croix, Ian Bernard Howard |
14 Oct. 2007 |
St. John's, NL |
| St. Croix, Eva Mary |
8 Feb 2010 |
St. John's, NL |
Phyllis and Eva
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