Marjorie S. Morris; Child Care Advocate

Marjorie Simpson Morris, a kindergarten teacher who became an advocate for quality child care and early childhood education, has died. She was 69.

Morris, who lived in Encino, died June 5 in Los Angeles of complications following open heart surgery.

She had been serving on the city of Los Angeles’ Commission on Children, Youth and Their Families, and was a board member of the Head Start organization called Foundation for Early Childhood Education.

But Morris is probably best remembered as the founding executive director of the San Fernando Valley Child Care Resource Center, which was established in 1976. She directed the information service that assists parents in finding quality child care for 12 years.

“Children belong to all of us,” she once told The Times. “If they grow up with poor quality attention, they’ll grow up to be purse snatchers and violent criminals.”

Morris began her own education in psychology at Stockton College (now Delta College in Stockton, Calif.). But when she worked with 2-year-olds for a class project, she realized her real interest was in teaching small children.

She transferred to UCLA to study early childhood education, primary education and human behavior.

After teaching in and directing nursery schools, Morris took time off to bring up her own three children--working only part-time teaching folk guitar lessons in her home. For a time, she sang children’s folk songs on KPFK.

Morris was president and longtime legislative representative for the Southern California Assn. for the Education of Young Children. She also served on the Child Development Policy Board of the California Children’s Lobby.

Morris, who taught college courses as well as elementary grades, was president of the Parent Teachers Assn. at Birmingham High School and on the board of the Arts Council of the San Fernando Valley.

She is survived by Hugo, her husband of 48 years, and their three children, Blond, Clifford and Paul.

A memorial service is being planned for June 28.