Vic Morris

Waldo Victor Morris was born January 16, 1926 in Fieldbrook, California. He lived in various rural communities with his four brothers, two sisters, mother and father in central California during his youth. He was a devoted son and brother and gifted high school athlete. Following his high school graduation, Vic enlisted in the military, and served in the United Sates Army from July 1944 to August 1946, during WWII.

It was during his Army Boot Camp at Fort Lewis Washington that he met Lela Fay Tschan at a local roller rink in Tacoma, Washington. They fell in love and married on September 26, 1946, just one month after his army discharge!

Following his Honorable Discharge from the Army, Vic began a long career with the Federal Government. He held accounting, administrative, and management positions with the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Mines. His career took him to California, Alaska, Colorado, Virginia, West Virginia, and lastly Minnesota when he retired in 1980.

Vic spent almost a year after his retirement traveling the country with Fay. Together they began a new “career”, contributing through extensive volunteering with the SOWERS organization, their church, and their community. Vic was always an active member in his local church, most recently at Desert Gateway Baptist Church in Gilbert.

In the early 90’s they moved to Arizona to be closer to family. Here they continued their life of service to family, community, and church.

Vic entered into the presence of Jesus the morning of August 9th, 2013. His loving, and devoted wife of 67 years was at his side until his very last breath on earth. He spent the last 4 years of his life, fighting back from a debilitating stroke, and was joyfully released from his earthly body and presented with a new eternal one, without pain or suffering.

Vic and Fay had four children, three boys and one girl, and throughout his life, he was actively involved in just about every sport or activity that any of his children participated in!

Vic is preceded in death by his father, Gerald Morris; mother, Nora Morris; brother, Cecil Morris; and sisters, Gwendolyn Messer and Geraldine Goeringer. He is survived by his wife, Fay of Gilbert, Arizona; brothers, Virgil Morris of Angwin, California, Marvin Morris of Paradise, California, and Norman Morris of Paradise, California; children and spouses, Ron and Joy Morris of Plano, Texas, Rod and Elaine Morris of Dallas, Texas, Dan and Sandy Gottry of Chandler, Arizona, and Brad and Denise Morris of Bella Vista, Arkansas; eight grandchildren and spouses, Josh and Holly Morris, David and Taryn Souders, Keith and Tschan Morse, Cosmo and Jeaneen Clarke, Josh and Amy Gottry, James and Lea Gottry, Chris and Maria Morris, and Daniel and Melissa Stokes; and 13 great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service for Vic will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 10:00am at Desert Gateway Baptist Church, 2175 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85295. Arrangements entrusted to Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care.