William "Bill" Lee Morris

Bill was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, October 18, 1942, as Bill Middleton. In 1955, after being placed in several foster homes, he was adopted by Don and Dorothy Morris. The family moved to Abingdon, Virginia where Bill graduated from high school in 1960. Shortly after, the family moved to Gretna, VA where his father was a lead engineer on the Smith Mountain Lake dam project. In Gretna, Bill worked on the dam project, joined the Navy Reserves, and met his future wife Cleo and her four-year-old son. In 1966 the couple married, he went on active duty, and the family moved to Norfolk, Virginia where they resided for approximately 60 years. After the Navy, he worked as a salesman for Doughties Barbecue / Sysco servicing customers on the Outer Banks for over 30 years.

Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and caring human being. He enjoyed spending time with his family during the holidays and at family gatherings in Sandbridge. He loved hunting, fishing, auto racing, and spending time with his many friends at the SCALRK Hunt Club and the American Legion Post 35 in Ocean View. He also greatly enjoyed his home and had a genuine affection for his friends and neighbors who would always keep a watchful eye on him.

Losing Cleo, his wife of 57 years in December 2023, caused considerable grief, sadness, and anxiety that he never recovered from. Ultimately it was congestive heart failure and related complications that caused his death. He fought a courageous battle the last few weeks of his life, and was transported home from Leigh Memorial Hospital Thursday, June 5th, where he passed away peacefully in his home that evening. He is survived by his son Sam, daughter-in-law Christi, grandchildren Chad and Samantha, and great grandchildren Addison and Mackenzie, as well as his brother Steve Morris and son Greg, and son-in-law Michael Shore. Others include Billy and Kathy Rhoads, Tim and Beth Campbell, and Chuck and Dalphine Waller. Bill had a positive influence on many and will be sorely missed.

The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 pm, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the funeral home with burial to follow in Rosewood Memorial Park.