| Morris's Page |
| 1990: Morris says this is the photo he wants on his obituary someday. He does look handsome and debonair! |
April 4, 2008, Morris writes after our first phone
conversation:
What a nice surprise to hear your voice over the
miles and years. ... [I will come to the 50th Reunion]
from Lancaster, Texas, or La Veta, Colorado, or the
old folks' home, whenever you schedule the event.
...
So you want some history/biography on all of
us---not easy to do for old people (joke!) to
remember. Let's see...
Born 10.22.1941 at Houston.
Lived as a child in Easterly, Floresville, Austin
(summers), and Marshall.
Moved to Belton August 1954. Joined our class in
7th grade (Mrs. Caskey) at BJHS. Your annuals
reveal our BHS experience.
The morning after our graduation ceremony, I
started college at Mary Hardin-Baylor, 1960-62, then
Howard Payne College (w/Dennis W) 1962-63, then
Baylor University, 1963-64. Double major in Religion
and Business.
Married Sharon in El Paso 09.11.64. Lived in Dallas
for 6 months, returning to Bell County on 04.01.65,
where I sold insurance and led music at several
Baptist churches.
Drafted effective October, 1966, so I joined the U.S.
Army to have some say in what was done to me.
Served at Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Polk, LA; Germany;
back to Fort Bliss; Fort Lee, VA; Vietnam; and Fort
Bliss again. Stayed 6 years and 2 months. Sharon
and I divorced.
Got out of the Army in November, 1972, at El Paso.
Founded Summa Company, Ltd. effective
12.01.1972, doing business as Tyson Insurance
Agency and Ty-Lar.
Married Martha 12.07.1973 in El Paso. She had two
children (Larry, 10, and Sandra, 8) and we had two
children (1974: Morris II---now CW3, serving his
third tour of duty in Iraq; and 1977, Melodee Marie,
from whom I am now estranged). We were married
for 6-1/2 years, then divorced.
Shut down Summa on 02.29.80 and reorganized as
Sirrom Holdings, Inc., also in El Paso, on 03.01.80,
doing business as Tyson Insurance Agency, Tyson
Motors, Enterprise Classics and Investments.
Traveled Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, and
(1980-83) western Oklahoma calling on car dealers,
selling their business insurance to them. Very
lucrative business.
conversation:
What a nice surprise to hear your voice over the
miles and years. ... [I will come to the 50th Reunion]
from Lancaster, Texas, or La Veta, Colorado, or the
old folks' home, whenever you schedule the event.
...
So you want some history/biography on all of
us---not easy to do for old people (joke!) to
remember. Let's see...
Born 10.22.1941 at Houston.
Lived as a child in Easterly, Floresville, Austin
(summers), and Marshall.
Moved to Belton August 1954. Joined our class in
7th grade (Mrs. Caskey) at BJHS. Your annuals
reveal our BHS experience.
The morning after our graduation ceremony, I
started college at Mary Hardin-Baylor, 1960-62, then
Howard Payne College (w/Dennis W) 1962-63, then
Baylor University, 1963-64. Double major in Religion
and Business.
Married Sharon in El Paso 09.11.64. Lived in Dallas
for 6 months, returning to Bell County on 04.01.65,
where I sold insurance and led music at several
Baptist churches.
Drafted effective October, 1966, so I joined the U.S.
Army to have some say in what was done to me.
Served at Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Polk, LA; Germany;
back to Fort Bliss; Fort Lee, VA; Vietnam; and Fort
Bliss again. Stayed 6 years and 2 months. Sharon
and I divorced.
Got out of the Army in November, 1972, at El Paso.
Founded Summa Company, Ltd. effective
12.01.1972, doing business as Tyson Insurance
Agency and Ty-Lar.
Married Martha 12.07.1973 in El Paso. She had two
children (Larry, 10, and Sandra, 8) and we had two
children (1974: Morris II---now CW3, serving his
third tour of duty in Iraq; and 1977, Melodee Marie,
from whom I am now estranged). We were married
for 6-1/2 years, then divorced.
Shut down Summa on 02.29.80 and reorganized as
Sirrom Holdings, Inc., also in El Paso, on 03.01.80,
doing business as Tyson Insurance Agency, Tyson
Motors, Enterprise Classics and Investments.
Traveled Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, and
(1980-83) western Oklahoma calling on car dealers,
selling their business insurance to them. Very
lucrative business.
| 1989: Morris with daughter Melodee and son Morris II at Sunland Park Mall in El Paso. |
| 1988: Morris with his mom, dad, and children. |
Invested in several car dealerships, but had heavy
losses in recession of 1991. I held on in the
insurance business until 1993, then tried again in
1994 and 1996, failing to get back in.
Daddy was diagnosed with cancer in October, 1991,
so I sold out in El Paso and moved to Lancaster,
Texas (near Dallas). He died in November, 1992.
Mother asked me to stay with her, which I have to
date.
I always enjoyed driving, so on June 30, 1997, I
started driving for a living, ending up as a
chauffeur, retiring for good on 08.31.2001.
I've dated several wonderful women, but, at this
point in my life, I doubt that I'll marry again. I have
plenty of female friends.
I now take care of Mother and teach a Sunday
School Class for men 75 and older at the First
Baptist Church in Lancaster. I also distribute Bibles
as a member of Gideons, International. I still enjoy
buying and selling classic cars, and traveling
mostly in Colorado (where I want to live,
eventually), but all over the U.S. In 2004, rented a
45-foot bus-type motor home and drove to/from
Alaska via Yellowstone and Glacier Parks going,
and Lake Tahoe and Indian country returning.
My love for cars continues. I have an '06 Dodge
Charger R/T Hemi and an '07 Solstice.
Throughout all the hills and valleys of life, I have
always tried to do right, keep my word, do my duty,
and live with honor. No regrets! I would not change
a thing!
Keep in touch!
Morris
(Note from Jan: Morris and I had a nice, long talk,
discussing what it was like to be a member of the
BHS Class of '60. He said he'd heard that people
thought he was "stuck-up" because his father was
president of Mary Hardin-Baylor, but he said he was
really very shy. He's grown out of his shyness now
and never meets a stranger. I remembered how
nice it was to have him sit with me at the 1990
reunion. I also quibbled with him about the
percentage of things we might wish to change in
our lives in reference to his comment, "Would not
change a thing!" Can't remember exactly how it
finally shook out, but on balance, he's a happy man,
looking forward to more good living, including hugs
at the 50th Reunion. Yay, Morris!)
losses in recession of 1991. I held on in the
insurance business until 1993, then tried again in
1994 and 1996, failing to get back in.
Daddy was diagnosed with cancer in October, 1991,
so I sold out in El Paso and moved to Lancaster,
Texas (near Dallas). He died in November, 1992.
Mother asked me to stay with her, which I have to
date.
I always enjoyed driving, so on June 30, 1997, I
started driving for a living, ending up as a
chauffeur, retiring for good on 08.31.2001.
I've dated several wonderful women, but, at this
point in my life, I doubt that I'll marry again. I have
plenty of female friends.
I now take care of Mother and teach a Sunday
School Class for men 75 and older at the First
Baptist Church in Lancaster. I also distribute Bibles
as a member of Gideons, International. I still enjoy
buying and selling classic cars, and traveling
mostly in Colorado (where I want to live,
eventually), but all over the U.S. In 2004, rented a
45-foot bus-type motor home and drove to/from
Alaska via Yellowstone and Glacier Parks going,
and Lake Tahoe and Indian country returning.
My love for cars continues. I have an '06 Dodge
Charger R/T Hemi and an '07 Solstice.
Throughout all the hills and valleys of life, I have
always tried to do right, keep my word, do my duty,
and live with honor. No regrets! I would not change
a thing!
Keep in touch!
Morris
(Note from Jan: Morris and I had a nice, long talk,
discussing what it was like to be a member of the
BHS Class of '60. He said he'd heard that people
thought he was "stuck-up" because his father was
president of Mary Hardin-Baylor, but he said he was
really very shy. He's grown out of his shyness now
and never meets a stranger. I remembered how
nice it was to have him sit with me at the 1990
reunion. I also quibbled with him about the
percentage of things we might wish to change in
our lives in reference to his comment, "Would not
change a thing!" Can't remember exactly how it
finally shook out, but on balance, he's a happy man,
looking forward to more good living, including hugs
at the 50th Reunion. Yay, Morris!)
| Christmas 1993: Grandpa Morris with granddaughter Jacque, now 15! |
1990: Left, Morris and son Morris II
stand behind MI's 1988 Corvette.
stand behind MI's 1988 Corvette.
| 2006: Right, Morris's Charger Hemi at the US 66 National Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma. |
| Morris's mom's clan at the Ray Family Reunion. |
| Nov. 2009: Morris, second from left, sings with his church's men's quartet. |
| Morris (on left in photo) has been elected Secretary of the Deacons and Yokefellows of The First Baptist Church in Lancaster, TX. This is the group that has been praying so faithfully for Jane and others of us who have health issues. They are doing a great job of sustaining a miracle. Many blessings upon them! |
| June 12 2010: Walt got this great shot of Calvin's wife Gayle and Morris, beaming, with Millard in the background. |
| June 2010, 50th Reunion: He's looking pretty good here, too, with Calvin's wife Gayle and Millard in the background. |