Hershel MORRIS

MORRIS, THOMPSON, THOMSON, REISETTER, HERRON, HOLM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/21/2012 at 12:06:17

June 7, 1911 --- April 19, 2012

KANAWHA, IA — Hershel "Babs" Morris, 100, of Kanawha, died Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt. Funeral services for Hershel "Babs" Morris will be held on Monday, April 23, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Kanawha with Pastor Tim Rieckhoff-Faris officiating. Burial will be at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 22, 2012, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 E. Second St., in Kanawha, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Ewing Funeral Home, Kanawha, Iowa.

Globe Gazette - Mason City, IA
April 21, 2012

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Hershel "Babs" Morris, 100, of Kanawha, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt surrounded by his family.

Funeral services for Hershel "Babs" Morris will be held on Monday, April 23, 2012, at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church in Kanawha with Pastor Tim Rieckhoff-Faris officiating. Burial will be at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 22, 2012, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street, in Kanawha and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Arriving on June 7, 1911, Babs was born in Missouri to Elmer and Lucile (Herron) Morris. Babs attended Kanawha High School where he excelled in football and track winning the state mile in 1931. Babs played in the last football game in 1931, and his son Jim played in the first game when football was once again played in 1959.

On June 16, 1933 he married Alma Jo Holm, and to this union three children were born: Philip, Rita and Jim. Babs was a member of the United Methodist Church in Kanawha, and enjoyed a Bible study with the men in Kanawha. Babs served the Kanawha community for 30 years in the plumbing and heating business. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. He was a member of the Kanawha Fire Department for over 50 years and was Fire Chief for 30 years. Babs loved being a clown in the annual Labor Day Parade for many years.

Babs is survived by his daughter Rita (David) Thomson of Overland Park, Kansas; son Jim (Judy) Morris of Kanawha, daughter-in-law Mary Morris of Mason City; 7 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; a step-grandchild; 4 step-great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Lucile Morris; wife Alma; son Philip; grandson Steven; and sisters: Audry, Bernice and Lavonne.

Babs' life was a life well lived.

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Mr. Kanawha' honored on 100th birthday

KANAWHA - Some would probably call Hershel Morris "Mr. Kanawha" - and for good reason. Morris, affectionately known as "Babs," is a former creamery man, plumber, fire chief, Boy Scout leader and a popular parade clown. And, he turned 100 years old last week. The birthday did not go unnoticed. On Sunday, hundreds came to honor Morris at a party at the Kanawha Fire Station.

"If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself," Morris quipped, as he greeted well-wishers, his daughter, Rita Thompson, by his side.

Balloons floated by a congratulations letter sent by President Barack Obama, and a stack of congratulatory cards grew taller as the afternoon went on. On a screen, a slide show of family photographs elicited laughter and smiles. Morris "has been around forever," said friend Glen Ruter with a chuckle. "And he is just such a nice fella."

Morris was born on June 7, 1911, in Missouri. His family moved to Corwith, and then Kanawha, as a youngster. His dad worked for the railroad. His son, Jim Morris,said his dad got his nickname when a neighbor commented on Morris' proclivity toward climbing trees when he was young. "You remind me of a little baboon," said the neighbor and "Babs" stuck. Morris worked on the railroad for a time before hauling cream from area farms for the Kanawha Creamery. Later, he joined his brother-in-law, Frank Reisetter, in the plumbing business. He and his wife, Alma, enjoyed their life in Kanawha. Alma died in 1979.

Jim said his dad loved to fish and trap - he tells of how his dad got two 60-pound beavers in one day. Thompson said his "clowning days" came from his "love of wanting to make people laugh." Almost all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were in attendance on Sunday. Morris led the Fire Department as chief for 36 years. Morris, whose health has been good, said Jim, still drives - slowly - around town. "Every day he goes to the pool hall at 3 o'clock to have his Pepsi," Jim said. Morris said he knows "I can't live forever" and said "I thank the good Lord for what I have had." "I love all of them," he said about the crowd that turned out on Sunday.

Globe Gazette - Mason City, IA
June 12, 2011