Kenneth Morris

Kenneth Morris was born December 22,1922 in Westville, OK to Bert and Kate Woods Morris and died, at the age of 94, on April 15, 2017 in Watts, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings-JC, Melvin, Floyd, Lloyd and Pauline Morris, first wife and mother of his children, Evelyn Morris, and step son Bruce Guffey. He is survived by his wife Gerri of the home in Watts; daughters Judy Tucker of Claremore, Gayle Mullin of Westville, Joy Walker of Muskogee and Jan Hopper of Grove; step sons Brad Guffey of Tulsa and Lonnie Guffey of Naples, FL; over sixty grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; the son he never had, Jimmy Hiner of Independence, KS; and special friends Guy and Shirley Ellis of Watts.
Kenneth's baby sister died when he was two and the following year his father died. His mother and her five sons lived a life of hard work, little money and a close-knit bond that lasted a lifetime. Under the guidance of maternal uncles, Kenneth learned the cattle trade-buying, selling and hauling and the skills of a butcher. In service to his uncles, Kenneth became a truck driver as soon as his feet could reach the pedals, a skill used in his service to Uncle Sam in World War II.
He had the greatest respect of the American flag and men and women in uniform. During World War II, he served in the US Army 300th Combat Engineers surviving five major European campaigns which included the Normandy Invasion and Battle of the Bulge. During the Vietnam War, he made wrenching decisions while serving on the Adair County Selective Service Board. Into his late 80's, he placed American flags on the graves of all veterans at four cemeteries for Memorial Day. He is a lifetime member of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, VFW Post 3698 and American Legion Post 104, both in Westville. Over a course of 59 years, he attended the 300th Combat Engineers Reunions in Dallas and Tyler, TX. In 2016, he was one of only seven buddies able to attend.
A true American Cowboy, Kenneth regularly rode his horse until an accident in his 80's necessitated giving it up. As a bull rider, he was a member of the Cowboys Turtle Association and RCA, the predecessor of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. For three decades he was a rodeo stock contractor in the four-state region. He is a member of the Rodeo Historical Society of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Kenneth worked long hours in his businesses, Morris Locker Plant and Grocery, Circle 6 Rodeo Stock Contractor, livestock truck hauling, rancher and livestock trader. His most important role in life was being a dad. He not only was a loving father to his daughters, he also assumed the role of surrogate dad and mentor to several young boys.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. in the Pentecostal Holiness Impact Church in Westville and burial at the Baptist Mission Cemetery in Westville. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts and Hart Funeral Home of Westville. Memorials may be made to WW II 300th Combat Engineers, c/o Jan Ross, 39 Old State Road, Erving, MA 01344 which is dedicated to the preservation of the history of WW II and the 300th Combat Engineers thru a website, www.300thcombatengineersinwwii.com .

Visitation

Roberts & Hart Funeral Home
404 S Williams
Westville, OK  74965
Thursday, April 20, 2017
9 - 5

Service

Funeral Service

Westville Impact Pentecostal Holiness Church
Westville, OK  74965
Friday, April 21, 2017
2 pm

Cemetery

Baptist Mission Cemetery
Hwy 59 N of Westville
Westville, OK  74965