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Unity man loved being in the great outdoors with family

Jeff Himler
gtrMorrison
Nicholas 'Nick' Morrison III, 40, of Unity Township, died Sept. 2017.
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The outdoors called to Nick Morrison, whether he was spending time on his family's farm in Unity, aiming an arrow at wild game or helping neighbors with a midwinter chore.

“He would plow every driveway in the neighborhood. It didn't matter who it was,” said his father, Hugh. “He would get up at 3:30 in the morning and plow out anyone who lives within a quarter mile.

“If someone needed a hand, he was there. If they had a sewer problem, he would take the excavator and help them,” he said.

Hugh Nicholas “Nick” Morrison III, 40, of Unity died unexpectedly of a heart attack Monday, Sept. 11, 2017.

Born in Latrobe on May 20, 1977, he was the son of Hugh and Carol Morrison Jr. of Unity.

A 1995 graduate of Greater Latrobe High School, where he played offensive tackle on the football team, Mr. Morrison began helping at his family's business, D-Bug Waterproofing, as he was growing up. He went on to serve as the company's vice president of operations for 22 years and eventually took over much of the management of the firm from his father.

“He handled all of the marketing, putting things on Facebook. He oversaw all the jobs that we did,” his mother said. “He could do anything — electrical, plumbing, running heavy machinery.”

“He managed the employees and the purchasing and made sure everything was done properly,” his father added. “He was a great communicator and a great motivator.”

When he wasn't hard at work, Mr. Morrison enjoyed spending time with his family.

Joined by his father, he golfed at Ligonier Country Club, placing near the top in tournament play. The pair took bow-hunting trips in pursuit of deer and elk in Pennsylvania and other states and headed to Alaska to hunt bear.

“Whenever he shot at something, he usually hit it,” his father said of his hunting skills. “He had an eagle eye. He could see for 500 yards.”

Mr. Morrison also enjoyed swimming and riding in utility recreation vehicles with his two children and fishing with them from stocked ponds on the family farm.

He was an assistant coach for his daughter's softball team and coached his son's dek hockey, soccer and baseball teams. “He would always build up the kids' self-esteem,” his father said.

Mr. Morrison belonged to the National Rifle Association, the Westmoreland Builder's Association, the local chamber of commerce and an industry group, the Basement Health Association.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Morrison is survived by his wife of 19 years, Christie; a daughter, Sierra, 10; a son, Hunter, 6; and a daughter to be born in December.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Jay A. Hoffer Funeral Home, 2245 Mt. Pleasant Road, Norvelt, where visitation was held Wednesday. Interment will be in St. Florian Cemetery, Trauger.

Memorial donations may be made to Armbrust Christian Academy, 7786 State Route 819, Hunker, PA 15639.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6622, jhimler@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jhimler_news.