Ira Allan Morriss

Ira Allan Morriss, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was called home on March 3, 2025, at the age of 89. Ira was born in the family’s log cabin near St.Paul, Arkansas, on February 7, 1936, to Russell and Zella Morriss.

Most of his childhood was spent in Coyville, Kansas, and his fondest memories were working and playing on the family farm. He graduated from a one room schoolhouse in Coyville in 1953. He was the salutatorian of his 13-member graduating class.

He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1954, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Bob, whom he idolized. He served 3 years in the Corps, most of it spent in Iwakuni, Japan. Ira played guitar by ear and his 3-man band played for the local Japanese orphanage and occasional parties for Marines on base.

Ira met his beautiful wife, Peggy Tuttle, in 1961 and they were married one week after her high school graduation on May 26, 1962. They had 5 children-Jeffrey, Jennifer, Michele, Shannon, and Sean. While working several jobs, Ira earned his bachelor’s degree in vocational education from Pittsburgh State University, Kansas.

After visiting a friend in South Texas, he followed the warm weather and the “good gulf breeze,” moving his family to San Benito in 1978. Ira was the academy printer for Marine Military Academy for 22 years and retired in 2001.

Ira loved vintage cars, motorcycles and guns. Conversations inevitably turned to one of these three topics. He also enjoyed watching John Wayne movies and working crossword puzzles. Ira was a 4-H member as a child and raised his children in 4-H, as well. He volunteered for the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show for several years with his dear friend, Larry Echols. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Fredonia, Kansas.

Ira was a devout Christian who served as Deacon and taught Sunday School at First Christian Church, San Benito. He later transferred his membership to Faith Christian Church, Harlingen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Zella Morriss, daughter Jennifer Lynn Morriss, son Jeffrey Allan Morriss, sisters Dona Davis, Thelma Edens, and Margaret Gillispie, and brother O.E. “Bob” Morriss. He is survived by wife, Peggy, daughters Michele (Todd) Cash and Shannon (Earl) Lundquist, son Sean Morriss, grandchildren Jennifer (Lee) Galvan, Cara Cash, Kelly “Sadie” Cash, Dylan Lundquist, and Vanessa Lundquist, and great-grandchildren Lisandro “Taylor” Galvan and Gideon Galvan, as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Faith Christian Church, 421 S. 13th Street in Harlingen, Texas. Interment will be held at a later date at the Coyville Cemetery in Coyville, Kansas.