Alice Eileen Morris

Alice or Eileen Morris, as she was known to family and friends, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Thomas Haffey and Agnes Hallisey on November 25, 1923. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Morris, her parents, her sisters Mary Funkhouser, Joan Roknick and brother, Tom Haffey. She is survived by her children, Bob (Fran) Morris of Colorado Springs, Co., Kathy (Bill) Chase of Dimondale, MI and Lynda Beauregard of Southfield, MI. Grandchildren, Rob (Katie) Morris, John (Frank) Morris, Nathan and Nick Chase, Ariane and Kyra Beauregard, as well as great-grandchildren Xander and Jacob Morris.

Eileen learned her life lessons in her small melting pot neighborhood of Beaver, Pennsylvania where she grew in the Great Depression. Her parents taught her love of neighbor and service to the community. Her father would buy leather and resole the shoes, as well as cut the hair of needy local children. Her mother would bake loaves of bread for them to take home to their families. Eileen also learned how to be tough and persevere when twice in her childhood she was inflicted with an unknown neurological disorder which cause her to be unable to use her legs to walk. Both times she forced herself to overcome the disorder. The second time was in high school when her doctor told her she could only return to school if she had all her classes on the first floor. Eileen never told the school her limitation and forced herself to climb the stairs to her classes.

She grew up with family and friends nearby, but all that changed after the birth of their second child, when Bob took the position of Bridge Engineer with the Federal Government in order to have advancement. This meant multiple moves, nine months in Springfield, VA. and three years in Springfield, IL before finally settling down in Lansing, MI. The last move was the most difficult. She had just given birth to their third child at age 42, only three months prior to the move. However, all the moving taught Eileen one more lesson, that a smile and a kind word were great ways to make friends and extended family. She will always be known for her positive attitude and wonderful smile.

She was a stay-at-home mother, except when, after business school, she worked for the Curtiss Wright Propeller Division, helping to make propellers for WWII planes and, after the children had grown, at J.W. Knapps, Women’s Department in downtown Lansing. She became a widow at an early age due to the death of her husband at age 67 and she never remarried. She travelled with her friends and family to Europe and Ireland and kicked her volunteering into high gear. Eileen was a Eucharistic Minister serving Catholic patients at Sparrow Hospital and home bound parishioners, as well as counting the Sunday collection every Monday for Church of the Resurrection for many years. In addition, she volunteered with many service organizations.

When her neuropathy struck her again, forcing her to give up driving and having to walk with a walker, she eventually moved into Great Lakes Christian Home in Holt where she was very happy and treated like family by the staff and friends she met there. Eileen passed away on October 30, 2021, her 73rd wedding anniversary to Bob. You could almost hear him calling, “Come on Eileen, it’s time to go!” She will be missed by all who knew her, but we know she is now without pain and in a better place.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Eileen will be celebrated on Monday, November 8th at 11:00 am at the Church of the Resurrection, 1505 E Michigan Ave., Lansing. The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. There will be viewing one hour prior to the mass in the church.