Nancy Lou Jones was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1932, daughter of Jack and Johnnie Jones. Nancy grew up in the Birmingham area as part of a dynamic extended family which included Jones’, Aldridge’s and McClendon’s. During her childhood, Nancy battled and overcame serious illnesses, including polio, using her convalescence reading and developing a deep appreciation for literature of all types.
Nancy spent her childhood years in East Lake, later moving to Huffman, where she helped her father build their next home, learning skills with tools unusual for a young woman of her time. She was an honor student at Woodlawn High School and later went to Auburn University, studying Electrical Engineering, one of the few women to do so in this era. Nancy met her future husband, John Kirby Morris, at Auburn during a Halloween dance, coincidently on her birthday. Nancy and John were married on New Year’s Eve in 1952.
Nancy worked as a draftsman and engineer after her marriage, living in various places, coming to settle in Huntsville, Alabama when John started his career with the newly formed NASA in 1960. Nancy left her profession at this time, becoming a devoted mother and homemaker. Nancy enabled John, through her love and support, to have an exciting and gratifying career with NASA.
Nancy served her community with great dedication, volunteering in the schools, library, community ballet, and emergency preparedness, to name a few. Nancy was an important part of several amateur radio organizations, all of which included service to the community. She was active in the local Episcopal Church, including serving on the Mission Guild. She was an expert seamstress and used her skills to create toys and clothing for her family, costumes for community ballet and items for fund raisers. She often served as treasurer in organizations, managed the household finances and started an investment club.
Nancy and John shared many interests and hobbies, especially amateur radio, but also including sailing, theater, ballet, opera, and literature. Together they pursued lifelong learning, attending university classes at UAH and traveling throughout the world with educational based tours. After living in the Huntsville area for more than 50 years, they choose to move to the Birmingham area to be closer to their son and daughter.
Nancy Jones Morris was predeceased in death by her beloved husband John K. Morris on June 10 of this year and is survived by their four children, Aphea Ann Thornton, John K. Morris, Jr., Caroline E. M. Smith, and Mary K. Johnson. Nancy will be missed by her sons-in-law, Greg Thornton, Philip Smith, Shawn Johnson and daughter-in-law Peggy Morris. Nancy was the devoted grandmother of Jessie Hayward, Joshua Thornton, Amanda Thornton, Matthew Smith, Frances Smith and Sarah Smith. She was thrilled to recently become the great grandmother of Juniper John Thornton.
A memorial service will be held on Monday October 15th,2018 at Church of the Nativity, 208 Eustis Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801; 11 am service with reception to follow at 11:45.
Memorial gifts may be made to Founder’s Place Memory Loss at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 3736 Montrose Road, Mountain Brook, Alabama 35213.
“Out, out, brief candle!”
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18