MORRIS, Florence Ada

MORRIS, WATT, SMITH, TYSON, HETRICK, RODOCKER, BIRD, BEEDLE, CLEVERINGA, HARMAN, SMITH

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 4/25/2006 at 17:22:23

Opinion Tribune
April 19, 2006

Florence Ada Morris, age 95, of Red Oak, formerly of Henderson, died April 7, 2006 at the Good Samaritan Center in Red Oak. Funeral Services were held on April 12, 2006 at Henderson Christian Church in Henderson. Rev. Derek Watt and Mel Smith officiated the service. Interment was in the Farm Creek Cemetery in Henderson.

One of five children of John William Tyson and Ada (Strong) Tyson, she was born on Jan. 7, 1911 in rural Walnut. She grew up in the area and attended country school near Oakland. She worked on her parent's farm until her marriage to Virgil Raymond Morris on April 9, 1930 in Oakland. The marriage was instantly blessed with Virgil's three young children, Sarah Maxine, Jake David, and Virgil Berl. Mr. Morris' first wife, Thelma Hetrick, had died at age 27 in 1926. The couple had three more children, Raymond William, Marjorie Florence, and Doris Kay. Mr. and Mrs. Morris farmed in the Oakland and Wales areas, and in 1946 purchased a farm in Mills County east of Henderson.

Mrs. Morris suffered optic nerve damage as a young girl and eventually lost her sight completely. Despite her poor vision, she was able to perform all of the tasks of a farm wife and mother; to include winning awards for her beautiful roses, gladiolas, and vegetables. The family was active in the Henderson Christian Church where she was a member of Ladies Aid.

In 1959, Mr. Morris suffered a heart attack and had to quit farming. The following year in February, the couple moved into Henderson. They had been married 54 years when he died in August of 1984 at the age of 87 years. Following his death, she continued to live in their home in Henderson until February 2005. She then moved to the Good Samaritan Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son Jake Morris; daughter Sarah Rodocker; sisters, Lily Bird; and Elsie Beedle; brother John Tyson, Jr. She is survived by her children; Raymond "Bill" Morris and wife Joyce of Colton, Calif., Marjorie Cleveringa and husband John of Sioux Center; Doris Harman and husband Paul of Henderson; and Virgil "Berl" Morris and wife Karen of Emerson; daughter-in-law Roberta Morris of Emerson; sister Roma Smith of Oakland; 26 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends.

Hertz Funeral Home of Carson, was in charge of the arrangements.