Kevin Morrison dies

Kevin Morrison, Wyland Galleries director of sales, died suddenly May 9. He was 43.

He died playing the golf game he loved.

A memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday, at the Marine Room Tavern, owned by Morrison’s longtime golfing buddy, Laguna Beach City Councilman Kelly Boyd.

Boyd was on the golf course with Morrison when he suffered a fatal heart attack.

The twosome were approaching the ninth hole at Mile Square Golf Course in Fountain Valley when they were attacked by a swarm of bees. Morrison fled over a small rise on the course, disappearing from Boyd’s sight.

When Boyd found Morrison, he was on the ground, unconscious. Morrison was rushed to Fountain Valley Hospital after paramedics and firefighters were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, Boyd said.

A physician determined that Morrison died from a massive coronary and not due to a bee sting, Boyd said.

“We lost Kevin too early, and yet we know he lived life doing what he wanted,” Boyd said.

Morrison was the head of sales for the Wyland Galleries in Southern California, three of them in Laguna Beach.

“He was a whole lot more than an employee,” the artist said. “He was like a brother to me. Both of us came from Michigan. We will miss him.”

Wyland said Morrison took great pride in the success of the galleries which helped fund the Wyland Foundation 14 years ago.

“His death was a great shock,” said Darlene Wyland, the muralist’s mother. “He was so young.”

Boyd said Morrison called him his surrogate dad — “Whenever I got on his case about something, he’d say, “All right dad.”

Boyd met Morrison about 10 years ago, when Morrison first moved to Laguna Beach, where he lived for about seven years before moving to Aliso Viejo.

“He began coming into the Mar Bar and we’d have a beer and talk,” Boyd said. “We played golf together for the past eight years.”

Morrison is survived by his mother, Sheri Morrison, and sister, Kim Morrison, both of Michigan; his daughter, Julie Anne, 13; and his fiancé, Holly Culkin.

His ashes will be scattered at sea in a private ceremony, Boyd said.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a trust fund that will be established for Morrison’s daughter. For more information, call Boyd at (949) 494-3027.

“We will be contributing to the fund and we encourage everyone who knew Kevin to contribute,” Wyland said.