Josephine Marie Morris

Josephine Marie Helms was born Wednesday, January 23, 1935 to August and Mildred (Hays) at home in the small frontier town of Lander, Wyoming “where the rails end”. August worked as a painter and Mildred an operating room nurse providing a good childhood for Jo and older sister Virginia. Jo enjoyed working the garden with her Daddy, seizing opportunities to pull a big weed then show him gaining approval for making the garden nice and clean. Growing up, she immersed herself in a vibrant mix of activities including Job’s Daughters, Girl Scouts, musical instruments, climbing trees, playing baseball, along with various athletic pursuits. Josephine learned to play a wide range of instruments, including the flute, clarinet, snare drums with band, and the violin. Josephine was a lifelong competitive athlete. She could be found at the river swimming and diving in summertime and ice skating during winter. Countless hours were spent at the skating pond feeling the brisk air of freedom upon her face gliding across the ice performing the waltz, fox trot, jumps, or playing a beloved game of Pom Pom Pull Away.

As a teenager, Josephine worked at the bakery for 15 cents an hour and at the drug store for 35 cents an hour. While working in the bakery one day, Josephine caught the eye of Mack C. Morris II—a remarkably neat and polite gentleman who asked her out to the movies. That first date blossomed into a lifelong romance. Following their formal church wedding, the newlyweds braved twenty-degree below zero temperatures for outdoor photos, capturing a playful moment with Josephine seated in a wheelbarrow as Mack pushed her through the snow. Jo remained faithfully devoted to him for more than seventy-three years.

Josephine adored the journey and joy in being a mother. She successfully raised three children while navigating the chaotic rhythm of corporate relocations. More than 37 states of residence Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Ohio, Mississippi, Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas to name a few. She mastered the art of setting up a household seamlessly turning new places into homes, always keeping her children’s happiness and well-being at the absolute center of her world.

Josephine possessed a strong work ethic from Avon and Tupperware sales having maximum time at home while her children were young progressing to Burger Chef bringing home Crazy Daisies for them, onto formal administrative roles in business environments—most notably handling bookkeeping for JCPenney. Beyond her professional pursuits, she committed over 20 years to providing full-time, compassionate care for her husband.

Josephine was loving, hard working, genuine, direct, with a strong sense of integrity. She adored the mountains, never failing to greet them with a happy hello and bid them a fond goodbye. Over the years, her travels were filled with adventure from annual trips back home to Wyoming and a six-week motorhome journey to Alaska, camping throughout the United States and Canada, to yearly generation vacations across a handful of states with great grandson Jasper. Josephine liked to whistle, cross stitch, work in her yard, purchase items on Amazon, and play solitaire daily on

her iPhone. She continued swimming late into her 80s. At age 90, she purchased a sewing machine and created a custom, heavy-duty cover with pockets for her recliner, using her own pattern and measurements. The greater part of her life was dedicated to faithful service: singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, serving the church in various capacities, sharing her faith in Jesus, and lifting others up in prayer.

Josephine entered into the glorious presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus on May 18, 2026 peacefully at home. Preceding her in death were her parents, sister, husband, and son, Mack C. III.

Missing her daily ‘Good Morning’ text and cherishing Josephine’s memory are loving children Paul Morris of Georgetown, Texas, and Dian (Lonnie) White of Midland; Grandchildren: Keisha and April of Midland; Paul Jr. of Portland, Oregon; Alex of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mack “Chas” IV of Dallas, Texas and Jenna of Katy, Texas; and Great Grandchildren: Jasper, William, Juliette, Veronica, James, Faith, Izzy, Mackenna, and Rob.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Ellis Funeral Home. Family graveside service will be held at Lovington Cemetery the following morning.