Patrick Arthur Morris

Patrick Arthur Morris was born on February 4, 1957, to Oscar and Rose Lee Morris Morris in Indianapolis, Indiana. He spent the years of his youth letting mischief get the better of him, doing things simply to see if he could. His favorite past times included running through the country fields, playing badminton and baseball, riding bikes down hills while standing on them, and was often spotted in an apple or beech nut tree. It was evident from an early age that Pat had a deep curiosity for the inner workings of machinery and could often be found tinkering with just about anything. He built go carts from wood pallets, a plethora of model cars and airplanes, and a pair of excessively tall stilts which required a climb onto the garage in order to be stood on. In his teens he’d work helping to tear down old barracks and was forever goofing off with his brother Tom to see who would get hurt first (usually Tom). In high school his athletic abilities lent themselves to his advantage particularly in the poll vault in track and field where he lettered. At the age of 18 Pat enlisted in the army and served active duty until 1978, 67N1F UTIL HELI RPMN, (utility helicopter repairman and aircraft mechanic) a profession he loved and continued in for 50 years, both in the Army National Guard and the private sector. He retired from the Guard in 1999.

Pat enjoyed working with wood, creating stage sets, archery, collecting antiques and was a dedicated and active supporter of several Autism and special needs programs in the Phoenix area. It brought him joy to use his skills and talents in serving these organizations.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Rose Lee, and brother Tom and is survived by his wife Krista, sons Josh (Jennifer) and A.J. (Jessika), and daughter Mackenzie; four grandchildren, James, Sedona, Carson and Brayden; sister Denise (George), brother Bill (Girlie), and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

The legacy of a man lies not with what he had at the end of his life, but how he lived and how he loved. Pat was devout in his faith, loved his family, and selflessly cared deeply for the world around him and the creatures in it. This is the mark of a successful life and we are all blessed to have been a part of it.