STATESVILLE — Mr. William "Bill" Grady Morris, Jr., 86, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at his home.
Born in Statesville, N.C. on July 12, 1926, he was the son of the late William Grady Morris, Sr. and Margaret Bryant Morris.
He was a graduate of Statesville High School and Virginia Tech University with a degree in Forestry.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War and was proud to serve on a submarine. He was a member of the Submarine Veterans of World War II.
Bill was a forester with Duke Power Company and retired in 1985. He was a member of the North Carolina Society of Forestry.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting, smoking his pipe, and was proud to be a "Hokie" from Virginia Tech.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ellen Sain Morris and son-in-law Capt. James O. Hensley, III, USMC.
On January 2, 1982 he was married to Deane Landis Morris and she died January 18, 2008.
Bill is survived by one son, Thomas A. Morris (Robin) of Raleigh and two daughters, Karen M. Collins (Lenwood) of Greensboro, N.C., and Linda A. Morris of Statesville. He is further survived by two step-daughters, Susan M. Ritchie (Don) of Crandall, GA., Linda M. McRorie of Atlanta, GA. and a step-son, Donald K. McRorie (Marsha) of Sunnyvale, CA. One granddaughter, Lara Hensley of Washington, D.C., a sister, Annette Morris of Statesville, and two step-granddaughters, Megan and Jacqueline Martin, also survive.
A visitation of family and friends will be from 2 until 4 p.m., Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Nicholson Funeral Home, Statesville, N.C. Burial will be on a later date. Mr. Morris donated his remains to the Wake Forest School of Medicine for medical research.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the
.
The family would like to express their thanks to the Home Instead caregivers and to Hospice and Pallative Care of Iredell County for their care and loving support of Mr. Morris
Online condolences can be made to nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Morris.
