Robert "Bob" Morris

Robert E. (Bob) Morris, 86, passed away on April 30, 2016 under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born on August 14, 1929 in Decatur, Illinois, to Stanley Ellsworth O’Moore and Lucille Ellen Hatfield. He lived in Chicago, Illinois and after a brief period in a Chicago orphanage he and his two siblings were brought to Jamestown, North Dakota and raised by their grandmother, Mary Ellen Hatfield. Bob attended school in Jamestown, graduating from high school in 1947. Bob enlisted in the Air Force in 1947 and proudly served his country for four years stateside as a communications instructor. He was honorably discharged from Keesler Air Force Base on July 13, 1952. The time he spent in the military and the lifelong friends he made profoundly impacted his love of country and the American flag. Bob returned to Jamestown where he met Carol G. Williamson. They were married on September 4, 1953, and spent 51 wonderful years together before Carol’s death in 2004. Shortly after they were married Bob worked on the railroad for one winter. Although he decided that was not the career for him, his love of trains continued with his passion for model railroading, primarily Lionel Trains. Bob and Carol then moved to Cooperstown, North Dakota where Bob worked for Standard Oil Company. Thereafter, he worked for Nash Finch Company before moving to Fargo in 1957 and commencing his long and successful 31 year career with Procter and Gamble Company as a salesman in the food division. He retired on December 31, 1988, one year after receiving the Salesman of the Year award. Bob was active in the Grocery Manufacturers and Retailers Association, serving as its President in 1968. His other interests and hobbies included dance club, bridge club, bowling and roller skating. After retirement Bob and Carol enjoyed spending winters at Carriage Manor Resort in Mesa, Arizona. Retirement did not slow Bob down. He loved attending spring training, fall ball and ASU baseball, and especially enjoyed watching ASU Women’s softball. In retirement he commenced a second career of volunteering. He was very active in the Red River Zoo, American Legion Baseball, the Fargo Air Museum, the Mesa Fine Arts Center, the Bobcat and Phoenix Open Golf Tournaments, and calling bingo at Carriage Manor Resort. He also enjoyed travel with his family, Dixieland Jazz and a good game of cards with family and friends. Bob ended every phone conversation with “I love you” or his signature line “It’s good to hear your voice.” He will be dearly missed by so many. Bob is survived by five daughters, Candice Morris-Thompson (Rick), Moorhead, Minnesota, Sandra Trudel (Jean), Bremerton, Washington, Kathy Morris, Richland, Washington, Sheri Thoemke (Jamie), Fargo and Nancy Morris (Joe Aas), Fargo, nine grandchildren, Rob (Sara) and Genna Thompson, Jamie (Paul) Trudel-Payne, Joel Trudel, Jason and Benjamin Schwartz, Amanda Thoemke, and Ellen and Grace Aas, two great-grandchildren, Carson and Calyn Thompson, and brother Del Morris (Dawn), Lewes, Delaware. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Carol, grandson Tyler Thoemke, and sister Dee Drager. A Celebration of Life will be held at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo, North Dakota, on May 6, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. A luncheon will be held at Boulger followed by burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family asks that memorials be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley or the Red River Zoo in Bob’s memory.