Evie Rosen Morris

Evie Rosen Morris, loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother, caring aunt and sister, passionate artist, musician and activist, passed from this Good Earth on May 10, 2022 after a yearlong struggle with cancer and a subsequent stroke. 

Evie was born April 17, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan to Harold and Rose Rosen and had recently celebrated her 75th birthday. Her family moved to University Heights, Ohio in the early 1950s where she attended Canterbury Elementary and Wiley Middle School. In her early years, Evie was trained as a classical pianist and, in her adolescence, served as an accompanist for choir concerts and theatre productions. She also sang in various choral groups in Middle School and High School. She graduated Cleveland Heights High School in June of 1965 and, after brief enrollments at Indiana State and Wayne State Universities, went to live in San Francisco, California, for an extended period of time. 

Upon her return to the Cleveland area, she met her first husband and had two daughters, Samantha and Christine. Their family eventually settled in Ravenna, Ohio but soon after Evie and her husband were divorced. Evie then met her second husband Stephen while attending Kent State University. They were married in the Fall of 1980 and would have celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary this year. Stephen adopted Evie’s daughters as his own and the new family moved back to Cleveland Heights from Kent to work and to be close to family. Shortly after moving they had their daughter Caitlin.

Once they were settled, Evie began to make her living as a freelance musician. She was awarded a Nellie Hines Scholarship from the Cleveland Music School Settlement, studied piano there with famed pianist Clive Lythgoe and began to teach elementary students. She would go on to teach privately from home, mentoring students of all ages over many years. She would provide accompaniment for solo and ensemble competitions as well. She continued to teach throughout all her musical career.

Evie also became very involved in the Cleveland musical theater scene as a Keyboardist, as a Musical Director, and eventually as a Director. She worked in high school, college, community and professional theater productions all over the Northeast Ohio area. During this time in her life, she was also able to finish her education and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Cleveland State University. She ultimately would become an adjunct Director at Brush High School in their Theater Department. She was a member in good standing of the Cleveland Musician’s Union. 

Evie also performed Folk and Americana music with her husband Stephen in their duo Eve’n’Stephen at Farmer’s Markets and private parties. In her role as an activist, she shared her musical talents at rallies and events promoting peace and social justice. Carrying on the legacy of her family, Evie used her voice, her personality, her talents and her passion to bring people together and try to make her corner of the world a better place than when she found it. Her shining light, her warm smile, and her boundless energy will be sorely missed by her family and friends. May her memory be a blessing!

Evie is survived by her brother Jerome and his son David; her brother Sheldon, his wife Karen, and his children Raquel, Nicholas and Annie; her loving husband Stephen; their daughter Samantha, her husband Greg and their sons Milo and Ezra; their daughter Christine, her companion Aaron, her daughters Jada and Madisyn and their devoted father Turand; and their daughter Caitlin, her husband Benjamin, and their son Elliott. She is also survived by many cousins as well as many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and nieces and nephews.

A memorial celebration will be held in mid July to honor Evie’s life. The family will post on Facebook with the details at a later date. In lew of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Hospice of the Western Reserve, and the Cleveland Heights Musical Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel (216) 932-7900.