John Farris Morehead

John Farris Morehead died Monday, September 21, 2009, at Seton Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. Born June 21, 1940 in Plainview, Texas, to Audrey Frances Farris and Lucian Edward Morehead, John attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a B.A. in Plan II and a law degree in 1965. He practiced law in Plainview for five years before returning to Austin, where he spent over thirty years in private practice. In 2001 he moved to the office of the Attorney General's office. Specializing in litigation, he tried over fifty cases to a verdict before juries at the District Court level. He was involved in many more contested non-jury matters. Additionally, he appeared in over sixty Appellate Court proceedings, presenting oral argument in six different Courts of Appeal of the State of Texas, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. Texas Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court where he represented the Democratic Party and the State of Texas in the political party filing fee case. John was the founding President of the Central Texas Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. He was a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the American Bar Association, The State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation, and was admitted to practice in all state and federal courts. John was active in All Saints Episcopal Church throughout his life, serving as Chancellor of the Vestry for twenty-five years. He was President of the Headliners Club, a long-time member of the Austin Country Club, an active member of the Longhorn Foundation, a member of the UT Athletic Council as a student, and he remained active there all his life. He was especially devoted to UT baseball, and he and Eliza built their house almost across the street from Disch-Falk Field. John loved going to Barton Springs, playing bridge and going to the horse races, but most of all he loved cooking and entertaining his family and friends. John is survived by his wife Eliza Wolcott Morehead, appraiser of antiques and decorative arts; four children, Katherine Flora Morehead Manninen, a CPA in Austin, and her husband Matthew Manninen; Lucian Kline Morehead, a commercial real estate broker, and his wife Courtney Scarborough Buzbee of Austin; Eric Scott McCready, Jr., professor of linguistics in Tokyo, Japan, and his wife Midori Morita ; and Alexander Read McCready, graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law; grandchildren Susan Elizabeth Farris Witt, and her husband Brian Peter Sorahan, and Bobby Fraser Witt; Coleman Kline and John Hudson Morehead; and Kai, Colin, and Tyler Scott McCready; and his father Lucian Edward Morehead, and his sister Lucinda Ann Morehead Garrett. He was preceded in death by his mother Audrey Frances Farris Morehead. A memorial service will be held at All Saints Church on Thursday, September 24, at 3:30 pm, officiated by Mike Adams with a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Church or a charity of your choice.