Gene Paul Morrison

Gene Paul Morrison, 95, proud World War II veteran, husband, father, grandfather, retired business executive, world traveler and life-long avid exerciser, has passed away peacefully in Dallas. He was preceded in death by his wife Rosalie in 1982 and his youngest sister Mary in 2019. Gene and his remaining sisters, Jane and Suzanne, all passed away within a three-week period earlier this year.

Gene and Rosalie had three sons: Gene (Maria), Stephen (Clare) and Thomas (Jeanette), four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Gene also is survived by his life partner of the past 40 years, Sheila Gallagher of Dallas.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gene was an industrious teenager (often with multiple paper routes) and a patriot from a young age. With his parents' permission, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17, training as a paratrooper in Trieste, Italy. At the end of the war, he joined his family in the Manhattan, NY area. Despite lacking a high school diploma, he passed the entrance exam at the University of Connecticut and used the GI Bill to complete his education.

During one of his never-ending searches for work, Gene met Rosalie. They fell in love, married and started their family.

Throughout his life, Gene worked in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in Sales and Marketing management. His intelligence, good looks, charm and work ethic opened the door to positions at companies such as Diner's Club, Hertz and Executone. His final position was Director of Distributor Sales for Northern Telecom in his beloved Dallas.

Gene's love of travel and exploration took him to almost all continents and included many historic and exotic locations. Over time, he and Sheila visited more than 80 countries.

Gene was a voracious reader and had a photographic memory which lasted throughout his 95 years. He had definite opinions and wasn't afraid to share them, as audiences in the Cooper men's locker room well know. Cooper provided the perfect environment for him to indulge in two of his favorite pastimes--exercise and lively conversation.

Gene, by nature, had a sunny outlook and even late in his life, he continued to see the world as a wonderful place and his life as a gift. He was proud to be an American and to have served his country. His final resting place is the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Veterans of Foreign Wars.