Robert Morss

Robin arrived on January 10, 1951 in Aurora Colorado. At almost 10 months, the almost 10 pound baby boy was delivered to Captain and Mrs. Marvin N Morss, who lived in Rapid City, South Dakota at the time. His mother, Rose, was flown out to the nearest Base Hospital, several hundred miles away for his delivery. A special stage, a little late and bigger than life, this began the grand adventure that was to be Robin.

The family moved to England for several years and then to Nebraska where he spent the majority of his youth. His Father, Bud, was a busy and frequently absent pilot in the cold war Air Force, so Robin grew up the only boy in a house full of strong and loving women. Rose, his mother was the commander of the crew. His older sister Katey was the sergeant and patient teacher. His younger sisters followed, Zanna was his trusty sidekick, and Mary Jane, artist in charge of imagination and furry creatures. Here, a gentle and protected Midwestern upbringing would instill in Robin a love of nature, a faith in the inherent goodness of common folk, and the solid moral foundation of a people tied to the land, always at the mercies of the climate. He was raised in a large rambling house that was never locked. He had huge trees to be climbed, gullies to be explored, snow forts to be built, and miles to swim. 4-H, Scouting, swim team, Civil Air Patrol, singing with the church choir and Sunday Brunch at the Officers Club became the routine. Around 1963, when the folk music scene was just blossoming, his father came home from temporary duty in Spain with Robin’s only really prized possession, a handmade, classical Ramirez guitar from Madrid. This event would define him, and mark the beginning of his true life’s work.

This idyllic Midwestern childhood would not last. In 1966 the family moved to Japan. Living in the Far East for the next three years during the Vietnam War would forever change him. The differing cultures, wild morals, and frightening world events happening so near him would widen his eyes and change the direction of his life forever. He could feel the pull of the distant revolution. No more wasting time on dull routine, he would live this life his way. And boy did he.

Only days after his high school graduation, and landing back in the US, Robin was out in the world and on his own. First stop Los Angeles, back to Nebraska for awhile, then on to Oregon, where he would spend most of the rest of his life. That first guitar quickly turned into a love of making music and singing the songs of the times. Always in a band, usually as the lead singer, he would travel the west coast performing, recording, and partying with his many friends, family and various band mates. His life was his music, but could never make a living as a music man, so various ‘day’ jobs were endured over the years; potting azaleas, raising rabbits, making motorcycle helmets, working the Oregon road crew, pole barn construction, bartending, and finally nursing as a CNA. Along the way he had three marriages, three wonderful children, and adventures few of us were brave enough to join. He traveled the world, surfing the big waves of typhoons, jumped out of perfectly good airplanes and fished for big ones off both coasts. He partied with friends and famous musicians, tried every indulgence, broke many bones, and wrecked more cars than most of us have ever owned.

Eventually this big life caught up, and Robin retired to the Camelot that is San Diego. Here he got reacquainted with his family. He became companion to his father and a loving brother to his three sisters. He saw two of his children married, and shared the joy of a perfect grandson. He found true love and kinship in his new marriage. He taught guitar to a new generation spreading the humor and good times that were his hallmark. He was smart, quite funny and could make a song from any lyric. He loved dogs, puns, old people and music of all kinds. He also found great comfort in caring for others in their last months of life; a friend’s aging father, the father of his brother in law, and eventually nursing his own father to the very end, to whom he had become a joy, his minstrel, jester, best friend, a loving and patient son.

He began his next big adventure on December 28th, 2014 when he peacefully left this party, delivered into the loving arms of his parents Bud and Rose, who went ahead of him. He will be forever loved and missed by his three sisters, Katey, Zanna and Mary Jane, his wife Laurie, his children Dylan, Kristen and Rikki, and his grandson Logan.

Party on, Robin.

Please join us for a gathering of Robin’s friends and family at:

An Open house on Saturday, January 10, 2015, 2-6pm @ Tim and Zanna’s house in National City, California

An Open house on Saturday, March 28, 2015, 2-6pm @ Rosebud House, Tidewater Oregon.

For additional information and directions please mail [email protected]