Nelda L. Gwin Morris

Nelda L. Gwin Morris, formerly of Shawnee, departed this life July 24, 2011. She was born October 31, 1926 in Belmont, Oklahoma to John Hilry Gwin and Effie Mae Terrell Gwin of Econtuchka, Oklahoma. She grew up a farm girl and graduated from Centerview High School. She married Albert James “Jim” Morris September 7, 1944 in Garden Grove, Oklahoma. And from that marriage three daughters were born. Nelda was a faithful Christian and member of Liberty Baptist Church, Shawnee. She was a homemaker who devoted her time and energy to the successful love and nurturing of her husband, their three daughters, four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. When she worked outside the home Nelda was a retail department manager. She also volunteered for many years at the Colonial Estates Nursing Home in Shawnee always reminding us of the importance of volunteer work and the value of something as simple as a kind word and a gentle touch in lighting up the day of someone with needs greater than our own. She made a difference. After living in Shawnee and Garden Grove her entire life Nelda retired to Lake Eufaula in 2007 to be closer to family. She was a gifted piano player who not only read music, but could listen to a piece of music once or twice and sit down and play it flawlessly. She enjoyed many pastimes in addition to piano, including flower gardening, needlepoint, sewing, crossword puzzles, collecting dolls, traditional gospel music, her dogs, and family and friend gatherings. She made lifelong friends and never knew an enemy. Nelda was a giver. She gave love and she gave of her time and from her heart. And she and husband Jim never turned away a hungry stranger. Her heart and soul were pure, compassionate, and generous and visitors were always welcomed. She was kind and gentle, and had a keen sense of humor. Nelda was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, one grandchild, and her only brother Lester M. Gwin. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Lucille and Lynn Farris of Brady, Texas; daughter Dorie Astle of Stillwater; daughter and son-in-law Vicki and Larry Pooler of Porum Landing; grandson John Farris and great grandson Wylie Farris of Chicago, Illinois; grandson Craig VanHorn of Oklahoma City and great grandsons Cooper VanHorn and Ty Robertson of Dale; grandson and wife Adam Farris and Christine Bourque and great granddaughters Sadie Ann Farris and Delia Mae Farris of Grand Isle, Vermont; granddaughter and husband Julie and Jason Catron, great granddaughter Jennie Barrett and great grandsons Jace Barrett and Theron Catron of Porum Landing; sister-in-law Zea Hayden of Oklahoma City; brother-in-law Chuck Morris of Alta Monte Springs, Florida; sister-in-law Norma Gwin of Shawnee; sister-in-law Shirley Hayden of Shawnee; her much adored Aunts Ophia Appl of Garden Grove, Amy Wyatt of Prague, and Gladys Judy of Shawnee; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. These were the flowers in her garden of life. She was much loved and will be sadly missed. But we know that she is in the loving embrace of God and freed from the frailties of life.