Judy Hamilton Morse

Judy Hamilton Morse, a resident of Norman, Oklahoma, died peacefully at her home on March 29, 2023. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2016, and faced her disease as she had lived her life—with grace, courage, and a signature practical confidence when faced with a challenge or turmoil.

Born in McAlester, Oklahoma, on June 17, 1946, Judy Ruth Garner was the only daughter of Delbert Luther Garner and Johnnie Wilma Garner, and sister to older brother Charles Robert (Bob) Garner. Her parents were educators and instilled in Judy the love of learning, which was a guiding principle throughout her life.

Judy grew up in Wilburton, Oklahoma, and was a graduate of Wilburton High School. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with honors, she married her first husband, William (Bill) D. Hamilton, whom she had met at a debate tournament. Judy and Bill had two sons while Bill was in medical school, Jeffrey Garner Hamilton and Bryan William Hamilton.

When Bill died unexpectedly of cardiac arrhythmia in 1974, Judy faced the prospect of raising two young children by herself as she approached any obstacle in her life—by moving forward, ever poised and practical. She decided to attend law school to ensure her family’s future. As she was later quoted in an interview for one of many professional awards she received, “I generally believe in the concept of controlling your own destiny. When difficult circumstances arise, one can either crawl into a hole and cry about it or one can make the best of it.”

Judy made the best of it. Despite the hardship of attending law school at a time when few women did so, let alone as a widow raising two young sons, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, graduated Order of the Coif and received the Nathan Scarritt Prize for achieving the highest grade point average in her class.

As fate would have it, another student joined Judy in the OU College of Law’s class of 1979—David Morse. He finally got the nerve to ask her out on graduation night. They were married in 1981. David became the adoptive father of Jeff and Bryan, and together Judy and David had two daughters, Lindsey Katherine Heinz, née Morse, and Ashley Brooke Morse.

Together with David, Judy navigated the busy and sometimes chaotic rhythm of raising four children while cultivating a rewarding legal career as a successful trial lawyer. She spent her entire legal career at Crowe & Dunlevy, one of the oldest and largest law firms in Oklahoma, where she was a cherished friend and mentor to many. She assumed many leadership roles at her firm including being the first female president of Crowe (as well as of any major Oklahoma law firm), chair of the litigation and trial practice group, and chair of the bankruptcy group.

Judy achieved numerous honors and awards during her legal career, which she would have been too modest to list, but just a few include induction into Order of Owl Hall of Fame at the OU College of Law, the Journal Record’s Oklahoma Woman of the Year, Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy Attorneys, Member of the Leadership Council and Board of Trustees of the American Inns of Court, 10th Circuit Member of the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Past President and Trustee of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, and Oklahoma Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Despite her many professional achievements, Judy was most proud of her family. Regardless of how busy she got, she always managed to show up for her children. And she somehow always knew whether you needed a solution or simply a sounding board. As a wife, she was loving, supportive, and a true partner in every sense of the word. When she became a grandmother, all rules went out the window. A Grammie/Gaga specialty was spraying Reddi-wip straight into the mouths of her delighted grandchildren. Judy also loved animals (authorizing the adoption of many pets over the years much to David’s chagrin), reading a good novel, and travel. Fortunately, she never put off her travel dreams for “someday” or “when I retire,” and, as a result, she got to experience so many beautiful places in this world with her friends and family.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents Delbert and Johnnie, first husband Bill, and oldest son Jeff. She is survived by her husband, David; children, Bryan (Rebekha), Lindsey (Brad), and Ashley (Michael Tran); daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Hamilton; brother, Bob; cherished sister-in-law and lifelong friend, Pama Hamilton Palmer (Mike); grandchildren, Nicholas Hamilton, Claudia Hamilton, Cade Hamilton, Harvey Heinz, Johnnie Heinz, Ellis Tran and Isaac Tran; and great grandson, Callahan Hamilton.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at McFarlin United Methodist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Services are under the direction of Tribute Memorial Care, and condolences may be shared at www.tribute.care. The family has not designated any charity, as Judy would only wish that we all take the time to give back to our community and to give our loved ones a hug, tell them how much we love them and treat everyone with dignity and kindness.