Jane H. Morris passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 6, 2021. She joins her late husband of sixty-two years, Jack Morris, who died in 2018, and she leaves behind her two daughters, Lu Burkett and Linda Casello; two sons, John and Paul; four children-in-law, Wayne, Mary, Laura, and Jon; four granddaughters, Sarah, Bailey, Sydney and Alison; four grandsons, Jeff, Ryan, Buck, and Courtland; two grandchildren-in-law, Taryn and Nick; and three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Bentley, and Charlotte. She also leaves behind many other beloved relatives and close friends who were like family to her.
She was born Jane Louise Hodgson on October 17, 1934, in Jackson, Tennessee. Her mother, Louise, raised her with help from Jane’s older sister, Peggy. Her biological father left the family before she was born. Her mother remarried, and stepfather B.F. Howard relocated the family to Memphis when Jane was three years old. She attended Maury Elementary, then Snowden, Bruce, Bellevue Junior High, Central High School, and Memphis State. Jane excelled as a student. She always showed up early to school and enjoyed learning. After school she worked as a legal stenographer for attorneys Larkey, Posert, Dudley, and Blanchard in the Commerce Title Building in Downtown Memphis.
Jane met Jack on a blind date in high school, and they married on March 4, 1955. They were the first couple to wed at Colonial Park United Methodist Church, where Jane and her mother were charter members. The married couple soon joined Christ United Methodist Church, where they were active members for more than half a century; they especially loved their Kingswood Sunday School Class, where they met many of their lifelong friends. After Jack’s death, Jane moved her membership back to Colonial Park, where she attended every Sunday including her online attendance over the past year due to the pandemic.
Jane and Jack had a strong marriage that was a true partnership. She provided him the support at home that allowed him to build a successful business to support their family. Jane’s stepfather founded the Auto Glass Company in 1951 and soon invited Jack to join him. After Mr. Howard’s death, Jack took over and renamed the company Jack Morris Auto Glass. With Jane’s help, Jack grew the business into the Mid-South’s leading auto glass provider. After Jack’s death, Jane continued to serve on the board of directors of the family business.
In addition to the business, Jane and Jack worked together on many civic causes. They loved and championed Memphis, and they insisted that all their children stay in the Memphis area. Jane loved being close to all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She stayed busy loving and taking care of all of them.
Jane was a dear friend to many. She was always sensitive to who might feel left out and made sure they were not. She was a great party host and guest, even though she was mostly an introvert. She cherished her alone time and a good book. She daily read paper copies of the Commercial Appeal and the New York Times; she cared deeply about the world. She played bridge and tennis. She was a loyal and passionate fan of the Memphis Tigers and the Memphis Grizzlies. She enjoyed watching all sports and tended to root for the underdog. She always took up for those not in a position to take up for themselves. She disdained the self-important and bullies. She was humble. She was a traditional lady with fiercely progressive ideals and politics. She could easily read the minds of those she loved, and she felt every pain and every joy. Perhaps her favorite activity was holding a baby, and in her life she got to hold a lot of them.
Because of the pandemic, the service will be held graveside for family only. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Colonial Park United Methodist Church, Methodist Hospice Residence, or MIFA.
