Wallace Leroy Morris

Wallace Leroy Morris, 86, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away at his daughter's home on Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 24, 2004 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nelson Road Chapel, with Bishop Chris Hyer of the Moses Lake 8th ward officiating. Interment will follow in Pioneer Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake. The family will greet friends at the church on Saturday, April 24 from 10-10:45 a.m.

Wally was born April 1, 1918 near Bridgeport, Wash. He was the eldest son of Edward Wallace and Leta (Gaines) Morris.

Wally served in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) from 1937 to 1940. He married Joy Juanita Jero on June 17, 1941 in Wenatchee, Wash. They later moved to the Columbia Basin (Moses Lake) in February, 1946, where they opened up the Columbia Basin Florist Shop.

After selling the business in 1947, Wally went to work for the USDA Soil Conservation Service, retiring in 1977 after 30 years of service. He then worked at Basin Lumber and Soil Test Farm Consultants, also doing landscaping and yard work on the side.

Wally enthusiastically and unselfishly gave his time and efforts to conservation and scouting. Boy Scouts were an important part of his life. He served as scoutmaster and on various district committees. He received his Eagle and Silver Beaver awards. In 2000, he was recognized for over 50 years of continuous service.

Wally was instrumental in the development and creation of the Moses Lake District Nursery, which supplied trees, shrubs and grasses for windbreaks and wildlife all over eastern Washington. He was active in promoting conservation with all age levels through youth conservation education, including Boy Scouts, church, natural resources youth camp, outdoor classroom, sixth grade conservation days and county fair displays.

His appearance on Romper Room, a Spokane television program, where he taught children about soil and conservation was well-received and viewed throughout the region for many years.

Wally will be well-remembered for sharing seeds, starts and produce from his garden, for the Christmas and Valentine decorations he displayed at the nursing home and hospital, for the geraniums, plants and corsages at Mother's Day and the boutonnieres at Father's Day. These were things that brought him great pleasure.

Throughout his life, Wally was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving faithfully in numerous callings.

Wally was preceded in death by Joy, his loving wife of over 50 years, his brother, Lloyd, sister, Pauline Baird, and his brother and sister-in-law, Everett and Elodie Willis.

He is survived by: his children, Marta (Paul) Watson, Lynne (Paul) Cunningham and Jess (Pam) Morris; grandchildren, Lynnette (Jay) Neil, Paul Daniel Watson, Robert and Chris Morris, Melissa (Joel) Nimmo, Alex Hare, Adam (Liz) Cunningham, Emily Cunningham, Kallie Green, Matt (Raquel) Call, Tamyra (Chris) Fosburg, Beckie (Jed) Spencer and James Call; great-grandchildren, Tasha (Steve) McDonald, Chris and Jason Neil, Nathan, Richard, Christina and Elizabeth Nelson, Tyler and Mikaela Green, Aidan Hare, Eric and Larisa Call, and MaryAnn Cunningham; a great great-grandchild, Andrew McDonald; and a brother, Vern (Mae) Morris.