Morris Winfred Werner, age 95, passed away after a brief illness on November 29, 2014 in Nashville, TN. He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years Bette Jean Werner, of Nashville, TN, parents Arthur and Jessie Werner and one brother Neill Werner. Mr. Werner is survived by his children; Jeannine Yowell, Michael L. Werner (Annelle) of Nashville, TN., Katie Smith (Roger) of Lascassas, TN., and Gregory N. Werner (Donna) of Cookeville, TN. He is also survived by three grandchildren David Yowell, Monica Emerson (Matt), Rhonda Smith and one great-grandchild Lennon Yowell as well as sister Mary Lou Carlson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Morris was born on September 18, 1919 in Corning, Kansas to parents Arthur and Jessie Neill Werner. Mr. Werner served in the 8th U.S. Naval Construction Battalion at the battle of Iwo Jima during WW II. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1948 with a degree in architecture. He was with Floyd Wolfenbarger in Manhatten, Kansas. In 1963, he moved to Nashville and accepted a position with Earl Swensson Associates. He retired in 1988 after twenty-five years of service. During this period he had responsibility for the design of Whites Creek High School and Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN as well as the Library and Fine Arts Building on the campus of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. Morris married Bette Jean Garey in 1941 and was a wonderful family man and a loving father. Mr. Werner was a member of Calvary Methodist Church in Nashville, TN. He has served on the Board of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He belonged to the Oregon and California Trails Association and helped map emigrant trails in Kansas for the National Park Service and the Kansas State Historical Society. Morris has written many articles describing the settlement of the west and placed eight markers in Riley County Kansas on the Fort Riley Military Road. His lifelong interest in history and geneology has traced family roots back several centuries and provided an interesting written journal of family events. His family and friends will always remember him as a kind and gentle person. He provided unconditional love and support for all of his family and will be sorely missed. Celebration of Life Service will be Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at two thirty in the afternoon with Reverend James R. Beaty officiating in Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall. Gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday from five o’clock until eight o’clock, and Wednesday from twelve Noon until two o’clock at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Morris’s life. The family would like to thank all of our dear family and friends for their support, prayers and kind condolences. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Morris' name to the Kansas Historical Society either online or at 6425 SW 6th Avenue · Topeka, KS 66615-1099 Visit the online obituary: www.woodlawn-roesch-pattonfh.com
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