Obituary of Joseph Leo Morris

Joseph Leo Morris of 501 Dutchman’s Lane, Easton, MD (formerly of 901 Fairfax Drive, Morgantown, WV) died May 10, 2014, at The Memorial Hospital at Easton. He was 98 years old. He was the son of John and Rosey Sydelko Morris. He graduated from Sharples High School in Sharples, WV in 1935 and graduated from Berea College, KY with a BS in Agriculture in 1939. He received his Master of Agriculture from West Virginia University and attended Colorado State University for Post-Graduate Studies. He was a Navy veteran of World War II serving in the Pacific as a commissioned officer aboard DE219 the USS J.Douglas Blackwood. He served with the USDA Farm Security Administration and successor agencies in a number of capacities including County and District Supervisor and State Farm Ownership and Housing Specialist. He joined West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service in 1954 as District Supervisor. He was instrumental in establishing and opening new Extension Offices in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming Counties. Later he was transferred and appointed Area Director serving eleven counties in North Central WV. He retired from WVU Center for Extension and Continuing Education as Division Leader in 1979. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and a Paul Harris Fellow of Morgantown Rotary Club. He was past president of Epsilon Sigma Phi, member of Gamma Sigma Delta agriculture honorary, and a WV 4H All Star. He was a member of WVU and Berea Alumni Associations. He was a past Vice President of Senior Monongalians. He is survived by his son and daughter-in law, Dr. Joseph and Anne Morris of Royal Oak, MD; a daughter and son-in law, Mary and W. David Cobbs of McDonough, GA; a sister, Emily Morris Bentley of Dade City, FL; three grandchildren Jonathan Morris of Easton, MD, Sarah Cobbs Lesley and Robin Cobbs Osborne both of McDonough,GA; four great-grandchildren Jillian Lesley, Marisa Osborne, Walter Morris, and Lucy Morris, plus a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty-one years, Marie Baker Morris, five brothers Edmond, Mike, Frank, Styish, and Dr.Thomas Morris, and two sisters, Angelina Trammell and Anna Ruszel. Friends and family will be received at the Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, on Thursday, May 15th from 6-8 PM. A committal service will be held at the Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens on Friday, May 16th at 10 AM with Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Allen officiating. Military funeral rites will be provided by the Westover VFW Post 9916. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 503 High Street, Morgantown, WV, 26505 or to WVU Foundation- 4H, One Waterfront Place, PO Box 1650, Morgantown, WV, 26507-1650. Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.