Jack Douglas Morris

Jack Douglas Morris was born on October 3, 1927, in Oglesby, Texas. He died on June 29, 2015 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. His parents were James Anderson Morris and Anna Lee Searcy Morris. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Searcy Hurst.

Jack grew up on a farm, where he learned to ride a horse and shoot a gun. He graduated from Oglesby High School and enlisted in the U. S. Navy in World War II, where he served as Yeoman 3rd Class. After the war, he enrolled in Baylor University. When in college, he worked for the Veteran’s Administration. He graduated from Baylor in 1950 with a B.B.A. in accounting. While a student at Baylor, his oldest child Pat was born. He moved to Killeen, Texas, in 1950 where he opened his own business, Morris Insurance and Real Estate. By this time, his son Rick had come along, and Melissa followed a few years later.

Jack was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and served as president of the board of First United Methodist Church of Killeen. He joined the Lion’s Club in May, 1950, and was 1st V.P., then President. He became a member of the Killeen Chamber of Commerce in 1950. In 1963, he served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, then was Director, and also a member of the GKCC Military Affairs Committee. He was sworn in as a United States Commissioner for US Courts, Western District on May 6, 1957. He was a member of the American Legion and the Killeen Masonic Lodge, where he was a Master Mason, York Rite Mason, Knights Templar, and a Shriner. In 1959 he became an official FHA sales and rental broker. In August, 1960, he was a member of the delegation from Killeen, attending the National VFW Convention in Detroit. He was elected to the Killeen ISD School Board in 1961, where he served three terms, one term as secretary. In 1962, he was on the steering committee of the Baylor University Ex-Students Association of Bell County. He was elected V.P. of that group in 1963 and President in 1964. He was an avid member of the Golden Bear Club for many years. On May 4, 1964, he was elected chairman of the Bell County Democratic National Convention (of Precinct 43). In 1967, he was the Security Committee chairman for the Stillhouse Hollow Dam Dedication Committee. In 1968, he was a delegate to the State of Texas Democratic Convention in Dallas. He was a director at the First National Bank in Killeen, a Director for the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District #1, co-owner of Perm-A-Dwell, a manufacturer of modular housing, and was on the Cowhouse Hotel Committee.

Jack Morris, our dad, was a true Renaissance Man. He was a voracious reader, lover of poetry, student of history, loved traveling across the American West in his motorhome, learned to fly a plane, studied the stars, mastered archery, and knife throwing. He was an avid golfer, hunter, guitar player, and singer. He never met a stranger. He genuinely loved people. He was very active in politics, especially during the Kennedy-Johnson years. He was an exceptional, loving father. He never missed a ballgame or a recital.

Survivors include his wife, Ferne Morris of Friendswood; daughter, Patricia Lynn DeLuca and husband, John of Fairview; son, Rick Morris and wife, Karen of Salado; and Daughter, Melissa Ann Davis and husband, Wayne; step-daughter, Sharon McDaniel and husband, Doug of Friendswood; and step-daughter, Joan Mauldin and husband, David of Friendswood; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

He will be buried at Post Oak Cemetary in his beloved Oglesby, near his parents. God has you in His keeping; we have you in our hearts, sweet Daddy. Rest in peace, until we meet again on that beautiful shore.

In lieu of flowers memorial can be made to Southern Care Hospice 8005 Bagby Avenue Hewitt, Texas 76643. The family would like to thank the staff at Luvida Memory Care in Belton and Southern Care Hospice for their love and care given to Jack D. Morris.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Oglesby with Pastor Robyn Ford officiating. Services are under the direction of Cole Funeral Home.