Melvin Donald Morris, Sr., we called him “The Duke”, has passed away at 88 years old at home in Columbia, TN on March 4, 2022, of natural causes.
He was born on January 31, 1934, in Lincoln Park, Michigan to Harry Leroy Morris, Sr., and Bertha Helen Schauer.
Four of the Schauer and Morris families’ children married each other: Fred and Elsie Schauer, Donald and Mary Schauer, Harry and Bertha Morris, and Edward and Phyllis Schauer. Their families attended church together for many years, creating many cousins and family closeness over the years.
Mel attended Lincoln Park High School in Michigan through 10th grade. He was six feet tall by the time he was thirteen years old and loved football. “GO BLUE!”.
He married Lillian “Jane” McPherson, whom he met through his mother Bertha and Jane’s sister Rose Bumstead’s friendship, on April 4, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan.
Mel worked with his Schauer uncles as a mason and then as a self-employed contractor working in Michigan, Alaska, and Florida. He has built many houses in Oakland County, MI, and the surrounding areas, some high-rise buildings, and several Burger King franchise buildings.
He has lived in Michigan most of his life but loved Alaska, Florida and lived in Ohio, also. In recent years he and his wife have been living with his daughter in Tennessee.
He was a faithful servant of God, loved reading the “Word of God”, gospel music, especially Jimmy Swaggart, and attending church when possible.
He supported many Israeli and Christian ministries monthly, feeding the poor and advancing the ministry.
He was a mystery to figure out when it came to food and could not tolerate garlic or any condiments and/or any casseroles. Ice cream was his favorite of all foods, and he has many offspring with the same love of it.
Mel is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Lillian” Jane” Morris, and their six children: Jolene Diane Emerson (Rodney Emerson), Elaine Jean Allen (Darwin Allen), Melvin Donald Morris, Jr. (Carol Dyer), Theron Daryl Morris (Mary Lou Cordeiro), Simon Dean Morris (Melissa Houston), Coreen Leann Hurd (James Hurd). Their 4th child, Lillian Bertha “Tammy” Miller (Bill Miller) preceded him in death on January 27, 1980, at the age of twenty-one.
Grandchildren –
Jolene’s: Jade, Sarah, Aaron, and Marisa/Mellie. Elaine’s: Joshua, Joseph, Jared, and Jennae. Melvin Jr’s: Jessie, Jamel, and Kendra. Tammy’s: Asya. Theron’s: Seth, Leah, Moriah, Neilah, and Levi. Simon’s: Simon Jr., Heather, Zachary, Taylor, Cole, and Skylar. Coreen’s: Jordan, and Kaylie.
Great-grandchildren-
[Jolene’s children] Jade: Austin, Brody, and Ty. Sarah’s: Kaiya, Riley, Caleb, and Trey Obie. Aaron: Isabella, Ariya, and Scarlet. Mellie: Phoebe, Caysen and Sebastian. [Elaine’s children] Joshua: Mikayla (deceased), Everly, and Lillian. Joseph: Joli, Jace, Max, and Myles. Jennae: Elena. [Melvin’s children] Jamel: Jalen and Justice. Kendra: London. [Tammy’s children] Asya: Ryder. [Theron’s children] Seth: Nora, Mikayla, and Mason. Leah: Connor, Brixon, Ronan, and Lauren. Moriah: Camryn. Levi: baby boy Urijah due at the end of March. [Simon’s children [ Simon Jr.: Annaliese, Ava, Alaina, and Silas. Heather: Benjamin, Isaiah, and Naya. Zachary: Lola, Piper, and Callie. [Coreen’s children] Jordan: Jeremiah, and Zion. Kaylie: Chase, Zaiden (deceased), Emma, Alice, and Meleena.
Mel had many cousins: Calvin, Darlene, Kathy, Sonny (deceased Korean War), and many more in Ohio whom he loved dearly.
Mel and Jane had many beloved dogs over the years but their baby to the end was Corky Beans, a white Bichon Frisee that he called son.
Melvin is being cremated at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee. https://www.tnfunerals.com After his wife passes, both of their ashes will be combined and taken to the resting place of their daughter Tammy in Lapeer, Michigan at which time a memorial will be held.
For more obituaries visit https://maurycountysource.com/obituaries/
