New award keeps alive the spirit of caring

Someone who gives and gives, but shies away from the spotlight.

When Bethany of the Northwest spelled out criteria for a new award a few months ago, those were qualities the agency hoped to find in a recipient. The Raili M. Hanson Inspirational Award was established in memory of a woman whose life exemplified caring for others.

Raili Hanson, a longtime nurse and wife of former Herald publisher Larry Hanson, died in 2010.

Shirley Morrow, a retired Everett teacher and volunteer, was honored Oct. 12 as the first recipient of the award.

Morrow, 76, said she spent “parts of 37 years” as a teacher in the Everett School District. For all but two years, she taught kindergarten. She taught at Hawthorne Elementary School in northeast Everett, where many students speak English as a second language, for 10 years.

In retirement, Morrow has for 13 years been a volunteer guardian ad litem. These trained volunteers make reports to judges deciding the futures of children in foster care.

At Everett’s First Presbyterian Church, Morrow is also instrumental in serving weekly “Dinner at the Bell” meals for needy people.

“She’s not one who likes to talk about herself,” said Kristine Morse, a program coordinator with Snohomish County Superior Court’s Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem Program. “She definitely has a big heart,” Morse said.

Volunteers in the program meet with a child, foster parents or other caregivers, and with the parents, Morse said. They then write reports used by judges in making decisions regarding the child. Morse said cases can take two years or more.

“She’s got one of those kind hearts,” Morse said, adding that Morrow has worked on more than 30 cases.

Larry Hanson presented Morrow with the award at a fundraising breakfast in Everett. The event raised more than $30,000 for the nonprofit Bethany of the Northwest, which provides nursing care, rehabilitation services, assisted living and senior apartments at several Everett facilities.

Carol Rodland, also a retired Everett teacher, taught with Morrow for years at Hawthorne. Not only that, Morrow was Rodland’s kindergarten teacher at Lowell Elementary School. Together, they’re now back at Hawthorne as volunteers.

As members of a group called Hawthorne Ambassadors, they provide monthly lunches and other treats for the school’s current teachers. “I always had a soft spot for Hawthorne,” said Morrow, who retired in 1996.

Rodland calls Morrow a crusader. “She’s tireless when she believes in a cause,” she said. “She’s been on her own and raised two boys. She made it all work. I highly respect her. She has a great trueness to her causes and her friends.”

At her home in Everett on Tuesday, Morrow didn’t talk about awards or accomplishments. She talked about family and friends.

One dear friend was Raili Hanson. She remembers meeting her when they became neighbors. The Hansons’ son Jeff came to a Halloween party at Morrow’s house. “That was 40 years ago,” said Morrow, recalling that Raili Hanson had made her son an astronaut costume.

Morrow, who was divorced when her sons were young, is proud of their accomplishments and empathy. Scott Morrow has been a leader with SHARE, Seattle Housing and Resource Effort, which operates tent cities for the homeless. And Todd Morrow, an attorney, has long been involved with Housing Hope, an Everett-based nonprofit agency focused on affordable housing.

Morrow didn’t know she had been nominated for an award named in her friend’s honor. “I was so humbled,” she said. “When I think of Raili, she was always able to keep a balance in her life. She was a wonderful nurse, and always there for her family and friends.”

Gloria Olson, an administrative assistant at Bethany of the Northwest, said Morrow was chosen from 15 to 20 nominees. “It was to be somebody who actually made a difference in our community. She fit so well,” Olson said.

In her mid-70s, Morrow still finds herself serving in one way or another on most days.

“It is a busy life, but it’s a good life,” she said.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; muhlstein@heraldnet.com.