Mary Ruth was born Sept. 10, 1900, the daughter of George and Mary Alice Hayden Morgan of Owensboro, Ky. Mary Ruth attended school at Mount Saint Joseph Academy from fourth grade in grammar school through the tenth grade. In the summer following her sophomore year, at age 16, she entered the novitiate. On November 28, 1917, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister George Marie. She completed high school while in the novitiate.
While still a novice in 1919, Sister George Marie was missioned to St. Angela Home in Louisville for two school terms as assistant music teacher. During her stay at St. Angela Home she suffered an attack of pleurisy that developed into pneumonia. She recovered sufficiently to be assigned to St. Michael School in Fairfield, Ky., in 1921. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis before the school year ended and returned to Mount Saint Joseph infirmary for treatment.
During the academic year 1922-1923, Sister George Marie was sent to live with the Ursulines in Farmington, N.M., with the hope that the dry, warm climate of the Southwest might help restore her health. That year she was forced to remain in bed. She renewed her vows on August 5, 1923, with Father Finton Zumbahlen, OFM, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Farmington, acting as the bishop’s representative. Sister George Marie remained in Farmington for two more years to continue her recuperation. Her general condition seemed to be improving but on December 21,1925, she died suddenly from complications caused by a lung hemorrhage.
On December 23, Father Finton Zumbahlen, OSM, celebrated the Requiem Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Farmington. Sister George Marie’s remains were taken to Sacred Heart Church in Waterflow, N.M., for the final blessing and graveside ritual. Sister’s remains are buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery there. She does have a monument in the Ursuline Motherhouse cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Rose Alice.