Ruth E. Morris

MORRIS, HOWIE, DEISCHER, MAX, CERESA, JACK, MOTSINGER

Posted By: David L. Skipton (email)
Date: 12/29/2010 at 00:54:11

Source: The Columbus Gazette

Ruth E. Morris, age 93, of Washington, Iowa died Sunday June 6, 2010 at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City following a sudden stroke.

Celebration of life services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday June 9, 2010 at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington with Rev. Bob Wollenberg officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church where the family will receive friends until time of services and immediately following during a time of food and fellowship. Interment will take place at the Harrison Cemetery in rural Wapello. A memorial has been established to the John and Ruth Morris Welcome Center, Camp Wyoming, 9106 42nd Ave., Wyoming, IA 52362. Online condolences may be sent for Ruth’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com.

Ruth was born June 6, 1917 near Monticello, Iowa to Robert and Alice (Deischer) Howie. She was educated in a rural school and graduated from Monticello High School in 1933. She mastered a business correspondence course and worked in the Cass Transportation Office in Monticello. Ruth graduated from Iowa State College in 1939. She taught home economics at Cotter High School. She was married to John D. Morris on July 5, 1939 at her mother’s home in Monticello. The couple lived in Sigourney, Muscatine, and Eldridge, farmed near Columbus Junction, and retired to the United Presbyterian Home in Washington in 1995.

During her lifetime she was a 4-H member and leader, a member of Half-Hour Federated Club, Garden Club, A.A.U.W., Cotter Westminster Guild, Women’s Circle of the Presbyterian Church, Friends of the Library in Gulfport, FL, and Washington, IA, and a member of the United Presbyterian Church. She was an organist and Sunday School teacher in the Presbyterian Church.

She was “mom” to exchange students from Demark, Sweden, and fifteen Japanese fellows in an International Farm Bureau sponsored program.

Ruth is survived by a son, David L. Morris and wife Carol Ann of Story City; a daughter, Marilyn J. Max and husband George of Hickory, NC; five grandchildren, Laura Max and husband Todd Houge of Iowa City; Sara Ceresa and husband Brian of Edmond, OK; David Max and wife Karla of Goldsboro, NC; Chad Morris of West Hollywood, CA; and Alex Morris of Rochester, MN; sisters-in-law, Lucile Howie of Adamstown, MD; Marge Howie of Monticello; Marjorie Jack of Wapello; and Frances Morris of Burlington; two great grandsons; two great granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband John on December 18, 2007; her parents; brothers Robert, Donald, and Kenneth Howie; and one sister, Janet Motsinger.