MORRIS, Richard E. (1939-2021)

MORRIS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/4/2022 at 23:12:58

Richard Eugene Morris
(November 9, 1939 - January 27, 2021)

Richard (Dick) Eugene Morris was born to Ivyl and Marie (Hain) Morris on November 9, 1939. Born and raised in Indianola, Iowa, he attended Indianola High School where he was a good student and an outstanding basketball player. Upon graduation, he married Linda Anne Vanderpool in 1957. After working for Utsler Electric for several years he joined the family business, Indianola Memorial Works. Linda joined him at the monument company shortly after Marie died in 1973. They worked this business together for over 40 years. Dick always cared deeply about his work. He was a business owner who valued hard work and customer service above all else and was involved in every aspect of the business. Dick and Linda were such great business partners until they were blessed to retire in 2000. He was a member of the Monument Builders of Iowa and Monument Builders of North America and held various offices and helped plan numerous conventions over the years.
Dick had a larger-than-life personality and was dear to his family and friends. Dick and Linda had 63 wonderful years together. They created a beautiful family; Debbie Schuster of Des Moines, IA, Dana Braun of Manitowoc, WI (husband Paul and children Ben, Carly Ann, and Madeline), Cindy de Vries of Orange City, IA (husband Nick and children Nick and wife Sarah, Jacob, and Samuel, who entered heaven on November 30, 2020), Rob Morris of Matthews, NC (wife Darci and children Luke and Lilly.)
Dick loved sports! Basketball was his favorite and he played for many years. He also played fast pitch softball and volleyball. He was a life-long Iowa Hawkeye enthusiast and rarely missed a game! He later took up golf and loved playing with his buddies and Florida friends. They enjoyed many winters together in Florida.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, breeding and training many beloved dogs. Dick loved coaching the kids in sports and watching them play. In the early years they enjoyed camping and many memorable family vacations.
They raised their four children, Debbie, Dana, Cindy, and Rob to value hard work and integrity. The kids started a business at home teaching swimming lessons for many years and always had their unconditional support. Dick and Linda were always generous and supportive when their friends and family needed them. Dick and Linda enjoyed many years of retirement, first in Panama City Beach and later at The Villages, Florida, where they were blessed with many long and lasting friendships.
Dick and Linda were blessed with eight beautiful grandchildren who adore them. The family has wonderful memories of growing up with tractor rides, playing on the giant sandpile, swimming in the family pool, and playing many spirited and competitive card games.
Dick left this earth on January 27th after a brief illness from Covid pneumonia. In his last few days in the hospital, he got to talk to his family using FaceTime and he was his sassy, fun self until the end. He teased the nurses about hospital food and quickly became the life of the party. Dick’s passing was peaceful and on his own terms. His family is so grateful to the doctors and nurses at Iowa Methodist Hospital who are angels on earth.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivyl and Marie Morris and his 28-year old grandson, Samuel deVries. Dick will be deeply missed by his wife, Linda, along with his children, grandchildren and many wonderful friends and neighbors.
If you would like to do something to honor Dick and his life-long love of youth sports, we are establishing the Dick Morris Memorial Fund at the Indianola Community Youth Foundation (ICYF) to carry on his legacy. ICYF helps give kids access to sports equipment and activities they may not otherwise be able to afford and also assists with food insecurity. Our hope is that kids will be able to discover the same love of sports Dick had. Another way to honor him is to be kind to your neighbors or that stranger in the grocery store. He would be so honored to inspire an act of kindness.
Donations for the Dick Morris Memorial Fund (in lieu of flowers) may be sent to the Indianola Community Youth Foundation at P.O. Box 423, Indianola, IA 50125. Private family services will be held Saturday, February 13, 2021. Friends may join the family on Dick’s obituary page at Overton Funeral Home’s website beginning at 11 am. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/