Robert William Morrison, Jr. died June 23, 2026 at the age of 87. He was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. Bob and his parents attended Washington Street Methodist Church. It was in the church’s infant nursery where he unknowingly met the love of his life, Dicky McCants. Bob and Dicky returned to Washington Street to be married in 1961 and were blessed with 49 years of marriage.

Bob attended Dreher High school in Columbia and played the clarinet in the marching band. He graduated from Davidson College in 1960 having received his degree in Chemistry. After Davidson, he attended graduate school at Princeton University where he earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry.

Bob and Dicky moved to Raleigh in 1964 where he began his first job at Chemstrand Research Center, Inc. (Monsanto). In 1968, he served as Visiting Faculty in the Department of Chemistry at North Carolina State University. While continuing to teach the evening course in organic chemistry at NC State, Bob joined Burroughs Wellcome Co. in 1969. He initially held the role of “Burroughs Welcome South” before the organization moved to the Research Triangle Park. Bob spent 26 years in research at Burroughs Wellcome where he became Director of the Division of Organic Chemistry. He later assumed the international role of Vice President of Bioanalytical Sciences with staff, laboratories and residences in the Research Triangle and in Beckenham, Kent (U.K.).

After retirement from Burroughs Wellcome in 1995, he returned to NC State to serve for the next eight years in several administrative roles for the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. During these later years at NC State, Bob derived much pleasure from nurturing and counseling students about life in the real world of science, business, and their career choices. One student put it this way, “You have aided me and many students before me, leveling our heads and preparing us for the big world beyond. The ivory tower can be difficult to leap from, but you have built a slide that we can use to land softly.”

Outside of his professional life, Bob was always finding things to nurture - whether a melody on his piano, a friendship, or a flower in his garden. His career, although accomplished, was only a small portion of what defined him.

Bob was an active member of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church. As Lay Leader he served on the finance committee and the church council. He was a member of the choir and the handbell choir. He participated in mission trips to Chile (1979), Haiti, and Zambia (both in 1997).

Music was a lifelong passion, and he found deep happiness in playing the piano as well as attending opera and symphony performances. His love for the arts extended into service, including leadership roles on the Board of Directors for the Opera Company of North Carolina (Chairman), North Carolina Opera, and the North Carolina Master Chorale. He was also a dedicated attendee of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great‑grandfather, and he created a home where family was central. He was there for milestones, celebrations, and the quiet moments in between. He found joy in the everyday - tending to his roses, working out in the gym with his trainers, or delving into a good mystery novel. World travel highlighted Dicky and Bob’s life together and Bob continued this love with many cruises in his later years.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert W. Morrison, Sr. and Marguerite Lewis Morrison and by his wife, Annie Dick (Dicky) McCants Morrison. He is survived by daughters Ann Nelson (Bill) of Raleigh and Trina Holt (Michael) of Burlington and also his grandchildren Brad Nelson (Andrew) of Wake Forest, Robert Nelson (Allie) of Raleigh, Emma Maggi (Phil) of Burlington and Mandy Rosenblum (Justin) of Charlotte. His great-grandchildren are Bella and Mikey Maggi of Burlington.

A memorial service will be held at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church on July 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends after the service. Suggested memorials include the Bob and Dicky Morrison Undergraduate Scholarship in Chemical Sciences Endowment (c/o NC State University College of Sciences Foundation, Campus Box 8118, Raleigh, NC 27695) or The Morrison Endowment for Special Music at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church (2209 Fairview Rd., Raleigh, NC 27608-2240).

The family would like to express their great appreciation to the loving and caring staff at the Cypress of Raleigh’s Rosewood Health Center. Additional thanks is extended to Liberty Hospice.