Osage County, Oklahoma, Obituary: GILBERT F. MORRIS Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joann Brazee Osage County News Service (OCNS) http://ocns.freeyellow.com/ Email: ocns@hotmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GILBERT F. MORRIS OCNS - June 26, 2002 - Gilbert F. Morris, Jr., 77, former longtime resident of the Ralston, Oklahoma community, died Saturday, June 22, 2002, at his home in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Services were held Wednesday in First Baptist Church of Ralston with Reverend Charles Welch officiating. Interment was in Highland Cemetery in Pawnee, Oklahoma under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City, Oklahoma and Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home, Fairfax. Mr. Morris was born March 3, 1925, in rural Blackburn, Oklahoma to Gilbert F. "Gib" Morris Sr. and Thelma Ruth (Jones) Morris. The family moved in 1928 to the Texas panhandle, where Gilbert attended the Skellytown grade school. He then attended White Deer High School, where he lettered in football and basketball, graduating in 1943. Gilbert entered the U.S. Air Force on June 4, 1943, serving with the Eighth Air Force as a gunner on B-24 bombers. He completed thirty-four combat missions in the European Theater during World War II. He received various commendations, including the Army Air Force Crew Member Badge; Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes Campaign ribbons; the Air Medal with Four Bronze Oak Clusters; Good Conduct Medal; Overseas Service Bar; and European, African and Middle Eastern Medal with Four Bronze Battle Stars. He was honorably discharged October 17, 1945. Upon completion of his military service, Morris returned to Skellytown, Texas, where he married Georgie Merlene Johnson on November 30, 1946. The couple made their first home in Pampa, Texas, where Morris was employed with Kewanee Oil Company. The couple moved to the Big Bend area west of Ralston in December, 1947 and began farming. They were two of seven charter members of Big Bend Baptist Church, where Morris taught Sunday School. They moved to Ralston in August, 1956, and Morris became manager of the Ralston cotton gin. He was also a bookkeeper for Ralston Farmers Co-op in the early 1960s. He later worked in carpentry in Ralston, Fairfax (Oklahoma) and Pawnee, retiring in April 1987. He and his wife moved to Stillwater on December 31, 1997. Morris was a longtime faithful member of Ralston First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and held various church offices, including church treasurer. He also served as a 15-year member of the Ralston school board. His enjoyments included spending time with his family, woodworking, watching sporting events and in earlier years, watching his children and grandchildren play basketball. He was predeceased by his parents and a special grandmother, Mary Clark. Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Gilbert Wayne Morris and wife Sandy of Ponca City; two daughters, Patricia Ann Chaffin and husband Bill of Raytown, Missouri and Pamela Jo Felix and husband Red of Pawnee; one sister, Erma Lee Hester and husband Guy of Burkburnett, Texas; seven grandchildren, Loy Wayne Morris and wife Casey of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Scott David Morris and wife Summer of Enid, Oklahoma, April Renee Wright and husband John of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, Jonathan Michael Chaffin and David Nathaniel Chaffin, both of Raytown, Missouri and Courtney Jo Felix and Justin Colby Felix, both of Pawnee; three great-grandchildren, Renee Ann Wright, Chase Dalton Morris and Bryce Garrett Morris; his mother-in- law, Yuba Johnson of Odessa, Texas; a brother-in-law, Dwain Johnson and wife Dottie of Marshall, Texas; a sister-in-law, Freddie Pugh of Odessa, Texas; six nephews; two nieces; and six cousins, including Jim Bandy and wife Joyce of Wichita, Kansas. Casket bearers were Edmund Gates, Harvey Myers, Junior London, John Coker, Bristow Carter and Ronnie Rice. Honorary casket bearers were Guy Hester, Jim Bandy, Dwain Johnson, Ben Bradley, Elmer Rice and Raymond Royster. Memorials may be made to: The American Red Cross 505 S. Main Stillwater, OK 74074