SOUTH PORTLAND — Florence “Flossie” Katherine Morgridge, 97, died Feb. 22 at the South Portland Nursing Home after a brief illness.

She was born Sept. 2, 1914, in South Portland. She was the last surviving child of Roy Thompson and Margaret Farrell Thompson.

She grew up in the Knightville neighborhood of South Portland, was educated in South Portland schools and was a lifelong parishioner of Holy Cross Church.

During World War II she worked in the construction of Liberty ships at the Todd Shipyard in South Portland and as a dressmaker in Providence, R.I. Later, she worked at DowCheck in Portland and retired from Mercy Hospital as a dietitian.

She was an original resident of the Mill Cove Apartments, living alone there for almost 30 years before moving to the South Portland Nursing Home.

Her family and friend will remember her for her wonderful sense of humor and love of practical jokes. She always had an extremely positive outlook towards life, which greatly contributed to her longevity; she always said she wanted to live to 100.

Morgridge was an extraordinary mother, fantastic mother-in-law and wonderful grandmother.

She was predeceased by her former husband, Ralph Owen Morgridge, of Burlington, Vt., in 1979. She is survived by her only child, Ralph Leroy Morgridge, and his wife, Susan, of Portland; two grandchildren Kurt Michael Morgridge of Portland and Caroline Susan Morgridge of Wilmington, N.C.; two great-grandchildren, Hunter R. Shiflett of Annandale, Va., and Maddix B. Morgridge of South Portland; two nieces, Jean A. Farrar of South Portland and Eleanor Hill of Portland; one nephew, Leroy Thompson of Saco; and many grand-nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Mercy Hospital, Dr. Joel Botler, Dr. William DiMicco, the Visiting Nurses Association and the outstanding staff at the South Portland Nursing Home for their superlative care.

A celebration of her life is planned for the spring or summer of 2012. Donations in her memory can be made to the South Portland Nursing Home, 42 Anthoine St., South Portland, ME 04106.