Martha Kirby Morrison

Mrs. Morrison passed away peacefully July 10, 2019 in Sherman, Texas surrounded by family and friends. She was born May 3, 1926, in Sherman, Texas, to the late William Matison (Matt) and Ola Mae (McKee) Kirby. Beginning in the early 1930’s, Martha worked for over 50 years at her family’s grocery store business, Kirby Grocery, on Grand Avenue near Austin College. Martha and her family provided several very unique services from their small store including fresh produce, cut to order fresh meat, buying on credit, free delivery and (amazingly) unloading the perishables into the refrigerator or freezer while the customer was not home. Doors were not locked in those days. Martha wed Walter John Morrison, Jr., a Denison firefighter, in 1959 and was happily married for over 40 years. She lived her entire life in Grayson county and other than a few years in Denison, home was always in Sherman at the northeast or southeast corner of Grand Avenue at Tuck Street next to Kirby Grocery. Martha’s passing brings an end to over 117 years of the Kirby family in Sherman, TX. Martha was a very honest and down-to-earth woman whose greatest joy in life was family. Along with her two sisters and her mother, Martha cooked incredibly delicious Southern meals, true comfort food, when the family and friends gathered, which was almost daily. Many days there would be a crowd at lunchtime (dinner). The evening meal (supper) also frequently hosted another crowd of family and friends. Memories of those meals still make one’s mouth water. She was a woman of few needs; she enjoyed the simple life, one uncomplicated by the fast pace of today’s world. She was truly a woman of a bygone era. Martha is survived by her brother in law, Bill McLeod of Plano; nephews Bruce McLeod and wife, Yvette of Plano, Brett McLeod and wife Julie of Dallas, and Scott McLeod of Houston; great niece and nephews, Andrew, Will, Thomas, Kirby, Caleigh and Bradan McLeod; step granddaughter, Debbie Keown and her husband, Mark of Pottsboro, as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren with her late husband, Walter. She is preceded in death by both parents, husband Walter and sisters Betty Jean McLeod and Matalene Jennings. Memorial services for Martha Louise (Kirby) Morrison, 93, will be held Saturday, August 3, 2019, 12:00 p.m., at Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church, Sherman, Texas. Committal service will follow at West Hill Cemetery in Sherman. Reverend Lander Bethel will officiate. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Martha’s memory to The Grayson County Crisis center or your favorite charity.