Obituary of Willard Morris

Funeral Service Thursday, Jul 12, 2018 11:00 AM Willard Morris April 20, 1933 - July 07, 2018 Willard Morris was born April 20, 1933 in Magnet, Texas to Joe Sebern & Katherine Bock Morris, the fourth of five children. His family moved to La Porte in 1937. Willard grew up in La Porte, graduated from La Porte High School in 1954 and was then inducted into the U.S. Army serving eight years in the Army Reserve. He married Marilyn Annette Evard in September of 1956 beginning a life of 61 years together, living in La Porte, Shoreacres, and then moving to Lomax due to damage to their home in 2008 from Hurricane Ike. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, son David Joe Morris & wife Denise Fischer Morris, daughter Jana Diane Morris and husband, Harry White, granddaughter Jodi Elissa Morris & grandson Drake David Morris, Sister Nora Foshee, brother-in-law Billy Bitner and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his Father, Mother, two Sisters and one Brother. Willard was employed by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for 34 years and retired in 1987. He was our guardian, our provider and our protector. He wrapped his arms around us with strength and steadfastness. He was always there to take care of us, no matter what we needed. There was no task too big or too small...whether it was untangling a fishing line, swatting a bee or repairing a broken motor. He always said he could fix anything but a broken heart. He cared deeply for his family. His passion for being outdoors, whether it was gardening, hunting or fishing sparked a desire in each of us to connect with the earth and love the nourishment nature could provide. Some of the most precious memories are ones of walks with him in his garden. We’d stop and look at each tomato plant or cucumber vine and listen to him, taking it all in, enjoying the intimate moment. He showed us how to have passion for what we enjoyed and how to take pride in what we created. He enjoyed cooking and visiting with his retired friends and later in life caring for his Grandchildren. He always had a story to tell even if he had no listeners. He loved to fry fish, BBQ for his family and friends and share his home-made bread & butter pickles. He loved to joke around and pull silly pranks. After a long day of making venison sausage in the kitchen, the phone would ring. He’d say, “Get that, it may be Jimmy Dean calling, worried I’m putting him out of business.” And then he’d laugh and smile. He taught us to laugh and never lose touch with our inner child. He spent much of his time pursuing the sports he loved -hunting and fishing with his son and friends and traveling to see his daughter who lived in Pennsylvania for 17 years. He encountered an experience during a serious illness many years ago which took him into the valley of the shadow of death when an angel appeared to him, telling him to return, God had not yet finished with him. This event changed his life. He became a member of First Baptist Church Lomax in 2002 where he helped with grounds maintenance many years until his health declined. Early onset of dementia created many changes in his life and in 2014 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease which eventually led to being homebound and severely incapacitated. Even though he could no longer speak, in his own way he gave us his love and passed on to us wisdom and insight for life. God called Willard home on July 7, 2018. He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and our teacher. He will be deeply missed. We wish to thank Pastor Jerry & Terri Agnew and friends at Lomax Baptist Church for the prayers, calls, love and support given to us. We also thank our friends, our family, Tomikia Brooks, all the hospice team at Texas Home Health ∓ Hospice and the healthcare team on Hall 400 at The Rio in Texas City.Visitation will be at 10:00am and the Service will be at 11:00am at Paul U lee Funeral home on Thursday July 12, 2018. In lieu of floral expressions, donations will be accepted at First Baptist Church Lomax Building Fund, 11303 North H Street, La Porte, TX 77571