Jimmy Neil Morris of Muldrow, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at the age of 63 in his home on Thursday , February 23, 2023, after a long battle with diabetes.
He was born on May 14, 1959, in Wellington, Texas, to J.C. Morris Sr and Esther Lavonia (Waye) Morris. He grew up in various towns in and out of the Texas panhandle before his family settled in Frederick, Oklahoma . There he attended Frederick High School and then later joined the Army at the age of 17. He was honorably discharged from the military following a medical injury. Shortly after leaving the Army, he met and married his bride of 46 years, Patricia Kay Jackson, on March 31, 1977. He started working in the aerospace industry, making a name for himself as the leading expert in heat treating/metallurgy engineering . He worked for many aerospace companies, traveling the continental United States, from coast to coast, and many places in between. Jimmy and Pat lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, California, Utah, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, and South Carolina . He received many accolades and achievements for his outstanding work in the aerospace industry . Anyone that was anyone in the aerospace industry knew who Jimmy Morris was, and they either wanted to hire him or to get his opinion. He moved from hands-on in the facilities on the shop floor to consulting and eventually becoming a Vice President . Then after 40 years of being the guy, he decided it was time to settle down, spend more time with his loving bride, and start living the country life he desired .
Jimmy was an avid outdoorsman, who loved to fish, hunt, garden, and of course, treasure hunting with his metal detector. He just loved being in nature with the ones he loved. His hobbies took him to interesting locales , and there were always stories to tell and sites to see. He enjoyed sailing with his brother in the Florida Keys and fishing in any watering hole he could find. He was passionate about the history behind his found treasures through metal detecting, sharing those stories , tales, and the love of the hunt with his family. He always knew a local myth, legend , or some story about lost gold that would get others interested in the hunt as well. We think it was because he wanted someone else to do the digging .
He was always one to help those in need, lending a hand, a job reference if needed, an ear, advice, provisions, and most of all, kindness. He was a devoted family man, staying in touch with everyone and always checking in on their well-being. He delighted in telling his nieces and nephews stories when they were little, which are still remembered and were repeated during each visit. He loved to laugh and was known as a bit of a prankster. He had a heart the size of Texas, especially regarding animals. He would take in every stray that would come his way and provide food, shelter, and love . He cared very much for his dogs – Freida, Pepe, and Chocolate . He enjoyed cooking , sharing recipes, and experimenting with new ideas and techniques. He smoked a mean brisket that was beyond compare , and anyone that ever tried some would attest to the same. Of course, no one ever left hungry. His legacy lives on with his recipes and methods , which are still used by families today. He made a lasting impression on all the lives he touched and will be loved and missed forever .
Jimmy is survived by his bride, Patricia Morris of Muldrow, Oklahoma; his brother J.C. Morris Jr of Denton, Texas; his brother Rudy and wife Susan of Fort Pierce, Florida; his sister Shari and husband Matt of Greenville , Texas; brother-in-law, Charles Jackson of Snyder , Oklahoma; in addition to a host of nieces/nephews/cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, J.C. Morris Sr (father) and Esther Lavonia Morris (mother) .
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.
“ If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.” -Alfred Lord Tennyson .
