Bill Morrissey, 59; folk artist traversed a range of emotions

Mr. Morrissey was on a tour of Southern states and about to return home when he was found dead Saturday in his room at a motel in Dalton, Ga., said Ellen Karas, his longtime companion, road manager, and former wife, who now lives in Australia. She said an autopsy showed that he died of complications of heart disease. He was 59.

Karas had known him since 1989, when they met at a friend’s party and immediately clicked.

She became a close friend, then road manager, lover, and eventually his wife. (His first marriage to Lisa Glines of Portland, Me., ended in divorce.)

Mr. Morrissey proposed to Karas by writing the song “Off White,’’ which has since been performed at dozens of weddings, she said.

Mr. Morrissey’s music was distinctive, as he combined a growl of a voice with impeccable guitar picking, supported by lyrics that reflected his strong literary background. His music had diverse influences, from Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk to the old bluesmen, especially Mississippi John Hurt, whose music Mr. Morrissey featured on one of his two Grammy-nominated recordings.

In addition to his 11 released recordings, Mr. Morrissey wrote a best-selling novel, “Edson,’’ which was recently translated into French and released in Paris. A second novel, “Imaginary Runner,’’ is ready for publication, she said, and Mr. Morrissey was working on his memoirs at the time of his death.

He was born in Hartford, one of three sons of the late Joseph Morrissey, who worked in the insurance business, and his wife, Marion. The family lived in Wethersfield, Conn., then moved to Easthampton and eventually Acton, where Bill graduated from Acton-Boxborough High School in 1969.