Kay Morrison

Kay Morrison was a Journeyman Welder from 1943-1945 for Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #2.

NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone

Catherine Stavros Morrison (Kay)

Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #2 - Journeyman Welder, 1943-1945

In Memory of.....

Early Life and Marriage
Catherine Stavros Morrison, known as Kay, was born in Chico, California, on November 22, 1923. She married her husband Ray while still a junior in high school. Kay’s older brother was serving in the Army during the African campaign, chasing Rommel. Ray was eager to join the service as well, but he was classified as “4F,” unable to serve due to health reasons.

Move to the Bay Area and Search for Work
After Kay graduated in 1941, the couple moved to the Bay Area in search of work related to the war effort. They found an apartment on Haight and Fillmore in San Francisco, and Ray quickly found work at Kaiser Shipyard #2 as a shipwright (carpenter).

Overcoming Barriers to Employment
Initially, Kay was discouraged from working due to a sign at the Union hall that read, “No Women or Blacks Wanted.” However, by 1943, determined to contribute, Kay returned to the Union hall, applied for a job, and was hired as a welder. She made two specific requests: to work in Kaiser Shipyard #2 and to be assigned to the graveyard shift so she could be with her husband. Although she had no prior knowledge of welding, she quickly learned the trade by attending a two-week welding school.

Work at the Shipyard
Kay and Ray commuted to work together via the ferry from San Francisco to Richmond. After three months on the job, she took the Government’s Navy Welding test, passing with flying colors and becoming a certified Journeyman Welder. A male co-worker remarked that it took him three attempts to pass the same test. With her new certification, Kay’s wages increased from $0.90 an hour to $1.38 an hour (approximately $18.00 an hour in 2015 dollars). Achieving the status of Journeyman Welder meant excelling in flat, vertical, and overhead welding. Kay welded on large sections of the ships, which were assembled and moved by crane in the Way. She worked the graveyard shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., six days a week. On one occasion, she had the honor of attending the launching of a ship she had worked on, a moment that filled her with pride and patriotism.

End of the War and Career Transition
Kay welded from 1943 until the war ended in August 1945. Although she understood that the returning men had first priority for jobs, she was understandably disappointed that she could not continue in her newfound profession. Ray went on to work at Moore’s Shipyard and Bethlehem Steel.

Family and Later Career
In the years following the war, Kay and Ray had two children. Ray eventually went into the laundry business, while Kay worked for Bank of America for over 30 years, retiring in 1984 as a manager. Kay and Ray had six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and they were married for 64 years until Ray's passing in 2004.