Arden Lynn Sims McMorris

Arden Lynn Sims McMorris was born on March 25, 1932 in San Antonio. She passed away in Katy on April 23, 2022, just weeks after her 90th birthday. Her childhood years were spent on her family’s ranch outside El Campo and she had many fond memories of her time there. Arden and her mother moved to Houston when she was in her teens. She also spent time during her high school years living in San Francisco with an aunt and her husband. Her time there left her with a lifelong love for the city of San Francisco. She returned to Houston and graduated from Milby High School. She began working at Houston Lighting & Power Company where she met the love of her life, Arthur H. “Mac” McMorris. They married on December 27, 1952 and welcomed their first child in November 1953, Cynthia ”Cindy” McMorris Tournier. Their son Arthur Cameron “Cam” McMorris was born in July 1955 and daughter Laura Elizabeth McMorris was born in September 1961.

The family moved to the neighborhood of Garden Villas in southeast Houston in 1957, and they all made many lifelong friends there. In 1974, they moved to the west side of Houston and lived there for many years before spending two years in San Antonio for Mac’s work. After they returned to Houston, they were dedicated to being the proud grandparents of Erick McMorris Tournier and Hayley Lynn Tournier, having bought a house just blocks away from the Tournier family. Cindy and her husband Philip deSola “Phil” Tournier will always be grateful to Arden and Mac for all they did to make happy memories for their children. Arden’s meatball and spaghetti dinners were Erick and Hayley’s favorite meals. In addition to her culinary skills, Arden was a talented artist, especially fond of watercolor and collage, and the classes she took at the Museum of Fine Arts’ Glassell School of Art were tremendously important to her. She also was an avid gardener and used her artistic flair to create colorful palettes around the yard wherever she lived.

Arden was preceded in death by her beloved husband Mac in October 1995 after his lengthy battle with COPD. She was a loving and devoted caregiver throughout their 42-year marriage, especially as Mac’s health declined over time. She sold their home to her daughter and son-in-law in 1997, eventually buying a patio home near them. She enjoyed time gardening, making art, and exploring the rural areas of Katy and Richmond, many of which reminded her of her childhood. In early 2015, when Alzheimer's disease and vision loss required a move to assisted living, she became a resident of Sunrise of Cinco Ranch, where she was known and loved by staff and fellow residents, especially for her red lipstick and love for music. Her family is grateful to all the Sunrise staff over the years who cared for and about Arden, especially longtime team members Annette, Debbie, and Melissa.

Arden is survived by her brother Erick Ryan Ahlgren and family of Kailua, Hawaii; her daughter Cindy Tournier of Katy, son-in-law Phil Tournier, grandson Erick McMorris Tournier and wife Kat Kelsch, and granddaughter Hayley Lynn Tournier of Frisco; son Cam McMorris of El Campo; daughter Dr. Laura E. McMorris of Austin; dear friend, confidante, and fellow art-school attendee Carolyn Rankin of Magnolia; and longtime family friend and former caregiver Kathleen Marie Smith of Austin.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, May 2nd, at 2 PM at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston.