Obituary

H. O. "Jack" Morris Jr.
(June 22, 1930 - October 27, 2020)

H. O. “Jack” Morris Jr. 90, of Huntington, W.Va., and Hilton Head, S.C., passed away Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at Cabell Huntington Hospital. He was born June 22, 1930, in Ansted, WV, a son of the late Harold Otis Morris Sr. and Hallie Thomasson Morris. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Kenton and Ailene Morris. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Rose Zella Morris; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lynn and Dr. Jim Butler of Barboursville and Beth and Edward Clatworthy of Inverness, Florida; one son and daughter-in-law, Hal Morris and Loretta Weiss-Morris of Hopatcong, NJ; one brother and sister-in-law, David and Joyce Morris of Florida; grandchildren, Eric Butler, Amy Parsons (Matt), Julie Pyles (Ashley), Joe Clatworthy and Andrea Clatworthy; three great-grandchildren, Asa, Amelia, and Latisha; and many nieces and nephews. Jack Morris loved his family more than anything. At 20 years old, he married his 17-year-old bride, skipping college to make their own home and start a family (being head over heels in love, apparently). He went to work for The Nickel Plant as we knew it, and in very little time was working with their first computers, in payroll. He continued learning computers as they developed, and was highly valued by the company. In the mid-1950s, he bought a tiny cheap house that needed all new plumbing and electricity, and he created all that with no prior knowledge. By the very late 50s the family was able to afford a house in the suburbs with a creek and a wooded hillside behind it. Almost all of his pleasures were with the family. He didn’t have time for golf or sports spectatorship (those he took up later), but got into bridge clubs, and developed a network of friends who made their own fun together, usually with children close to the ages of his own. But he did have time to take us on regular two week camping vacations, mostly in national parks where the children swam and floated on air mattresses, with him in the middle, exuding fun. After the woodsy camps with ice cold ponds and blackberries to pick, they went for variety and discovered the West, the Atlantic Outer Banks, Washington DC and much more. By around 40 years old, Rose Zella, his wife had become the manager for a Recreational Vehicle company and after a few years, they had an opportunity to buy the company on good terms, and he had the savings to do it. She grew the business rapidly, which led to a life of world travel, houses of their dreams, and a two-seater plane which he learned to fly in his 50s. He taught his children the value of a great marriage, love of family and how to succeed at big things. He was a wonderful grandfather, and became in the last few years a beloved great-grandfather, and will be sorely missed. Please join us for visitation Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. and/or his Memorial Service, officiated by the Rev. Richard Bowyer, at 12:30 p.m. – both at Wallace Funeral Home in Barboursville. Entombment will follow at Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington. Also, please come visit with family and friends at a campfire reception/visitation – immediately following at 802 Big Bend Rd., Barboursville – home of Lynn & Jim. In lieu of flowers, if you wish to honor Jack with a donation, please consider either St. Andrew by the Sea, 20 Pope Ave, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 or your own favorite charity.