Margaret Lee
Morris

Margaret Lee Morris passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Renown Hospital in Reno, Nev. She was born to Riley and Doris Kent on Nov. 3, 1954 in Borger, Texas. Margaret lived in the Panhandle of Texas for most of her childhood. Her maternal grandmother, Ms. Opal Hollars lived in Plainview, Texas and Margaret’s family stayed close by their matriarch as families often did in the 50’s and 60’s.

Margaret was preceded in death by both parents and all five of her siblings. Family and friends were everything to Margaret. It has been said that our cousins are usually our first friends. In Margaret’s case, this was especially true, for her siblings had many children. However, it wasn’t just cousins; it was nieces and nephews galore. Edward, the oldest brother, had six boys: Lester, Wayne, Jesse, Daniel, Michael and David. Evelyn, her oldest sister had seven children as well: Richard, Michael, Kathy, Jenny, Jack, Gary and Angie. Her sister, Ann, had two children, Buddy and Lynn. Marie, her next older sister had four children: Brian, Charlene, Tonya and Michael.

Margaret’s family had moved to Pensacola, Fla. by the time she was about ten years old. While they left their grandmother in Plainview, the family made an annual vacation trip back to visit. By this time, it was Margaret, Marie and baby brother, Mark sitting in the back seat asking that age old question, “Are we there yet?”

Margaret married her first husband, Charles, when she was still very young. This was part of the reason she said the marriage did not work. Of course, this writer likes to think it was because she had not met the right person. The family remained close to Charles after all, he was Uncle Randy. Charles passed away about a year after he and Margaret separated.

Margaret moved to Tallahassee, Fla., and took a promotion with the company she had been working with in Pensacola. She became the hotel and restaurant manager for the Howard Johnsons – Capital Center. It was one evening when she was assisting with the closing of the restaurant that she met the man who would become her husband. Freddie Paul Morris was sitting in a booth waiting for his sister, Jan Pelley, to close the restaurant. Margaret walked by the booth and told him to grab a vacuum so they could get out of there. Paul obeyed. Margaret likes to tell that story and she always included “and he’s been obeying me ever since.” Paul let her get away with it, most of the time.

About a year later, she and Paul moved to Plainview, Texas, where once again, she was close to her grandmother. Their first son, John William Morris was born in Hale Center, Texas, on Nov. 15, 1985. Grandmother was trying to comfort Margaret as Paul drove through a blowing snow the 25 miles from Plainview to Hale Center. Grandmothers comforting techniques were not working very well.

A few months after John was born, Grandmother reluctantly assisted Paul and Margaret in their move to St. Petersburg, Fla. where they remained for 16 years. A second son, Joseph Riley Morris, was born on May 7, 1987. Margaret was happy. She had her own boys, and a husband who loved her. She had her family. That was pretty good for someone who had been told she would never be able to have children.

Paul had a daughter from his first marriage who came to live with he and Margaret when she was about 12 years old. So, she had two sons and a daughter. For Margaret was quick to tell anyone that the only ‘steps’ were those that got you into your home. Margaret and Paula were buddies. Of course, Paula was soon to move into those teenage years and like all parents and children, Margaret Lee Morristhere were times when they would clash. But, Margaret was a good mom; perhaps a little too generous at times.

Paul and Margaret moved to Hawthorne, Nev. in 1999. She worked in the new bio-remediation project at the Hawthorne Army Base. She could throw a bale of hay as well as any of the men, so she would say. She also worked in the grounds department with her new best friend, Carol Ann Lovell. These two ladies remained the very best of friends until Margaret’s passing. Margaret said she was her sister…friends and family were everything to Margaret.

Margaret and Paul were together for 33 years and 11 months. They had two sons, John and Joe; a daughter in law, Sara; a daughter, Paula; four grandsons, Brian, Jose, Miquel and little William. They also had four great-grandchildren, Haley, Talon, Zaden, and the newest addition, Tobias, and his dear mom, Taylor. There are just too many folks to name. But one thing for certain, Margaret had what she always wanted… FAMILY.

God Bless you, my love. I will miss you until I see you again.

The family wishes to let her friends know that services are being planned, and will be announced at a later date. We also want to encourage anyone who may be considering flowers or cards to think about making a donation to the Hawthorne RSVP. These were the angels who drove Margaret to and from her dialysis in Fallon three days each week. God bless you, Charlie and Deanna Morris, Gay Ann Williams and the other volunteers. We could not have made it without you. Margaret and I love each of you so very much.