Theodore C. Morris, Sr. Died May 12, 2017

Theodore. C. Morris, Sr.

Died May 12, 2017

LAKE LEELANAU – Theodore Clark Morris, Sr., 96 of Lake Leelanau, died Friday, May 12, 2017 at home surrounded by family.

Ted was born on August 26, 1920 in Kansas City, MO, the son of Beyrl Clay and Margaret Johanna (Clark) Morris.  On Feb. 10, 1942, he married Maxine M. Cummins who preceded him in death on Jan. 7, 2017.  He served in the U.S. Army with the 69^th Signal Battalion.  He saw service in Rhineland, Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes, and Normandy earning the Bronze Star Medal and many unit awards.

A great soul has left this earth and returned to heaven to live in eternal peace with his heavenly Father and the love of his life here on earth, forever.  This world will never be the same for those of us he left behind.  We will all miss his physical presence here but we find comfort in the knowledge that his soul is at peace.  He has been reunited with mom and all his family that has gone before him.  They are celebrating his homecoming and he and mom are dancing together once again, as they so beautifully did, many years ago here on earth.  They are once again together forever with no more pain, worries, or sorrow.  We can only pray that when our time comes to leave this earth, we will all be reunited in love forever.  He is in a place where he can watch over his family like he never could in his earthly body.

He was very strong, yet a gentle hearted man.  He has forever changed the lives of everyone he has ever met by his kind, gentle nature and his ability to see the good in each person.  To see them as individuals with needs all their own and help them in whatever way he could, if he felt it was the right thing to do.  He was a man of great integrity and his love for his fellow man outweighed any need for himself.  His legacy lives on in all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  He was and always will be our strength and we love him more than words can ever express.  

There can be no greater blessing on this earth than to have parents like ours.  They were by far the greatest gift God could possibly give us.  They taught each one of us that true love does exist here on earth because they were truly in love until the day God called them home.  They taught all of us what unconditional love was through their example.

My dad lived his life completely committed to his wife of almost 75 years and his family.  He always put his family first in his life and we know in our hearts that he loved each one of us more than life itself.

We love you Daddy and will miss you dearly.  Rest in the knowledge that you are loved here on earth, as you are in Heaven, and your legacy will live forever in and through us, in the lives that we touch.

Ted is survived by his eight children, Ted (Blanche) Morris, Jr., Carol Chrisman, Dave (Lanette) Morris, Dan (Sharon) Morris, Marie (Mike) Rothgarber, Trish (Chuck) Mehney, Christine (Dean) Allison, and Jim Morris; 21 grandchildren, Kelly (Rod) Killian, Nancy (Danny) Lacy, Gerard Morris, Donna (Todd) Gerard, Debbie (Ken) Hunroe, Becky (Charlie) Jacobson, Isreal Bradshaw, Erik Morris, Bob Morris, Chris (Samantha Lucas) Morris, Renee Rothgarber, Jason Morio, Tony (Stephanie White) Morio, Brandon Morio, Matt Marek, Sean Marek, Ryan Marek, Mickey Copley, Brandon Allison, Amanda Allison, Jessica Allison, ; and 11 great-grandchildren, Jimmy Lacy, Mary Lacy, Kayla Gerard, Derek Gerard, Melony Hunroe, Heather Hunroe, Haley Jacobson, Nathan Morio, Ethan Morio, William Morio and Lilo Morio.

In addition to his wife, Ted was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Willard Eugene Morris; and sister-in-law, LaVanche Newlun Morris.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. with the rosary at 7 p.m. at Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 20 at 11 a.m. with visitation held one hour prior at St. Mary Church, Lake Leelanau.  After the funeral mass, cremation will take place and graveside services for both Ted and Maxine will take place on June 3 at 1 p.m. at St. Mary Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to granddaughter Kelly Killian to help her battle with MS, PO Box 159, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.

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