Wayne G. Morris
(February 22, 1947 - September 2, 2015)
Wayne G. Morris, 68 of Parker and formerly of Redfield, died Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at his home. Visitation will be on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at the Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker with family present from 5-7pm and a Prayer Service at 7:00pm. Memorial services will be at 11:00am Saturday, September 12, 2015 at Thelen Funeral Chapel, Redfield.
Wayne G. Morris was born to Vera Mae (Gardner) Morris and Robert E. Morris in Watertown, SD on February 22, 1947. He passed away on September 2, 2015 at the age of 68. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1965. Wayne was drafted in May of 1966 into the US Army during the Vietnam conflict. He was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, MO and served 17 months in Munich, Germany. He returned to the US in May of 1968 and started working for John Vander Wall Construction of Brookings. He met his wife Peggy (Hicks) Morris while working in the Redfield, SD area. They were united in marriage in 1969 and to this union one child was born, Cena Lee Morris. He and Peggy remained in the Redfield area until he retired.
Wayne started working for Erie International Equipment in 1970 and continued to work for them as a machinery salesman for 42 years in Redfield. Wayne retired from Titian Machinery in February of 2012. He and his wife Peggy moved closer to their daughter and family in the Sioux Falls area. They have been residing in the Parker, SD community since August of 2012.
Wayne had many hobbies over the years and was a dedicated and very hard worker. He loved his corvettes that he restored and Cushman scooters. Wayne always loved to garden and generously gave away the bulk of his yearly produce to friends and neighbors. He loved taking care of his yard and was given "Yard of the Month" in the 1980's. He helped everyone in the neighborhood with snow removal every time it snowed. He loved doing that for his neighbors, plus he enjoyed his Cub Cadet mowers and snow blowers, so why not use them to the fullest. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved the outdoors. He was a proud grandfather, teaching his only grandson to shoot sporting clays and trap. In the fall of 2014 Wayne and his grandson went deer hunting on Wayne's land by Tulare, SD: Addison (Buddy) shot his first deer, a 3 pointer, and grandpa was so proud. What a beautiful bond they had with that hunt.
Wayne had many other interests including owning and breaking to ride his quarter horse, "Cee" who was only a colt when he bought her. She was a feisty horse, but Wayne loved her and she loved him right back.
He collected many guns over the years, with a few of his own from childhood that he was so proud to own. Peggy and Wayne started collecting antiques in the 1970's and had a house full; they loved to restore them and display them throughout their home. There wasn't anything that Wayne couldn't do, and he was good at everything he did. In 2012 Wayne and Peggy sold their collection of antiques and moved south to Parker, SD.
Wayne had some health problems over the years, but endured them gallantly. He had quadruple-bypass surgery in 2008 and then in 2009 he suffered a stoke, but he fully recovered from those. Cancer is what took Wayne and he fought it to the end.
Wayne was a member of the Redfield American Legion until he and Peggy moved and then he joined the Chancellor American Legion. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and was a proud American and a dedicated worker.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of the friends and family who have supported us and supported Wayne throughout the years and in the final months of his life. Special thanks go to the farming, sport shooting, and fishing community in the Redfield area; chances are if you broke a clay pigeon, wet a line, or owned a red farm machine anywhere nearby you would count yourself among Wayne's circle of friends. Also thanks to the coffee crowd in Chancellor and Parker, the pool players at the Parker Senior Center, and the pinochle gang a Kelly's.
Wayne is survived by his wife Peggy of 46 years, and one daughter, Cena Lee (Tom) Keller of Sioux Falls, SD as well as his three grandchildren, Addison Barrett Avery, Evin Clare Avery and Merrick Gardner Keller.
Wayne is also survived by his siblings, sister Roberta (Kent) Anderson, Edgewater, MD, sister Lynda Petersen, Greely, CO, brother Kent (Darlene) Morris, Clear Lake, SD, sister Cyndy (David) Larsen, Stockholm, SD, and brother Dana Morris, Fullerton, CA; sister in law Connie (Richard) Pirtle, St. James, MO, brother in law, Danny (Tammy) Hicks, Aberdeen, SD, brother in law, Scott (Judy Carroll) Hicks, Redfield, SD, brother in law Clair (Brenda) Hicks, Badger, SD, mother in law, Bonnie (McNeil Hicks) Ellis, Aberdeen, SD, as well as several nieces and nephews and his faithful yellow lab hunting dog Sam.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, grandparents Frank and Goldie Morris, Leslie and Myrtle Gardner, his father in law Marty S. Hicks and step mother in law Margery Hicks.
In lieu of flowers memorials maybe directed to the American Cancer Society.
or www. thelenfuneralhome.com