Morris "Chick" Boren

He was born in Herrin, Ill., on April 29, 1938, to Thomas M. and Ollie N. (Stover) Boren and was always and affectionately known as “Chick” to his family and many friends and colleagues, a nickname given to him at an early age by his grandfather.

Chick grew up in Herrin with one older brother, Tom, whom he genuinely admired and who spent his career serving as an aeronautical engineer, likely influencing Chick’s eventual career path. He grew up working in the family grocery business while attending his beloved Herrin High School.

He studied at The University of Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Mo., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, and was a member of the Miners football team with several lifelong friends and recall Chick as a “very special guy” who was quick with a smile, a laugh or a helping hand, and who would go to great lengths to play a joke on a friend.

Chick married his high school sweetheart, Sandra (Flener) Boren in 1961, and together they raised their two daughters, Kelly and Kim. Chick is remembered by both daughters as a fun-loving, supportive and involved father during their childhood. Whether he was supplying the neighborhood with SweeTarts or Planters Peanuts or was playing along with teenage shenanigans, he always took any opportunity to share time with his girls and their friends.

Prior to entering the professional workforce, Chick spent 6 months in active duty with the United States Army , but true to his roots, he spent his career primarily in the food industry, working for numerous companies, including Hunt-Wesson Foods in Fullerton, Cal., Sunline Candy Company in St. Louis, Mo. and Planters Peanuts in Fort Smith, Ark., where he enthusiastically served as Plant Manager for almost two decades.

Chick was extensively involved in the community of Fort Smith and the state of Arkansas, serving as Chairman of the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission, as Director of Associated Industries of Arkansas, the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce and City National Bank. He was also appointed to serve as a member and Chairman of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission during its historical formative years, and served on the Board of Directors for Cherokee Nation Industries, as well as the Board of Advisors of St. Edward Mercy Medical Center and the Board of Trustees for the Arkansas-Oklahoma Regional Rodeo/Fair. Following his retirement, Chick began his own consulting business and traveled internationally advising clients in nut processing technology.

Chick was preceded in death by his parents, by his wife and the mother of his children, Sandra (Flener) Boren, and his brother, Thomas Charles Boren (Ibbie Jean). He is survived by his daughters, Kelly Hogan (Bill) of Ruston, La., and Kim McDonough (Russ) of Little Rock, Ark., by Kelly and Bill’s children Taylor Mabry (Brenner) and Natalie Ford (Clayton), by Kim and Russ’s children Madison Moody, Hannah Moody, Emily McDonough, Ellie Kress, Russell McDonough IV, Will McDonough, and by great grandchildren Owen McDonough and Lydia Mabry.

He was also preceded in death by his second wife, Stephanie Carlene Boren of Van Buren, Ark., and is survived by her children Tiffanie Koehler (Ed) of Covington, Tenn., and Brian Fry (Tonia) of Van Buren, Ark., and grandchildren Donovan Dotson, Dallas Dotson and Maddox Fry.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 4, 2026 from 1:00 until 3:00 pm at Edward’s Funeral Home, 201 North 12th Street in Fort Smith. A burial service will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 1:00 pm at Egyptian Memorial Gardens in Herrin, Ill., under the direction of Van Natta Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, Ark., 72116 or to a charity of your choice.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the caregivers and staff at Woodland Heights Senior Living Memory Care Unit in Little Rock for the compassionate and quality care they provided for Chick during his stay there.