Geraldine Morris
March 22, 2009

Geraldine Bernice "Jerry" Morris, 89, of Keokuk, passed away at 5:20 AM Sunday, March 22, 2009, at River Hills in Keokuk.

She was born on September 28, 1919 at home on the family farm near Ewing, Missouri, the oldest daughter of Clarence F. "Fred" and Bertha Mae Huebotter Hackett. She attended school in Ewing, until her senior year of high school when her family moved to Quincy, Illinois to open a grocery store at 3rd and Hampshire. She graduated from Quincy High School in 1938.

Jerry attended college for two years at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri; and attended one semester at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.

While working at her parents' grocery store, she was approached by representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1942 to train as a clerk-typist. She traveled to Washington, D.C. for training, and then worked for the F.B.I. in Seattle, Washington; Portland, Organ; and San Francisco, California as a clerk-typist, and later as a radio operator, until she resigned in November of 1945, when she returned to Quincy, Illinois.

She married C. M. "Mel" Morris on March 17, 1946 at Central Baptist Church in Quincy, Illinois, and they began their married life in Keokuk, Iowa. Upon marrying Mel, Jerry became the mother to his son Bob.

The family returned to Quincy in 1947, at which time they bought the grocery store operated by her parents, along with her sister and brother-in-law. In 1950, they returned to Keokuk, and opened Morris Market at 318 South 18th Street. After selling the grocery store, she worked at Dryden Rubber from 1952 - 1953. Jerry began working at Iowa Fiber Box Company in 1953, (later Hoerner Box), and was employed there as timekeeper until her retirement in 1979.

Following her retirement, she and Mel traveled; and she became active in the Lee County Historical Society, Keokuk Art Center, River Buffs, Questers, and Greater Keokuk Area Habitat For Humanity. She continued her long-time participation in the G.O.C. Circle of Kings Daughters, as well as her church circle at Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk. Jerry was a member of P.E.O. Chapter IG in Keokuk. She was also an accomplished artist, excellent seamstress, and wonderful cook. She also nurtured and mentored scores of people. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her children and their families, Robert (Mary) Morris of Keokuk; Judith (John) Kammerer and James (Glenna) Morris of Hamilton, Illinois; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Steven (Lynn) Morris and children
Allison, Lauren, and Madison of Ballwin, Missouri; Scott (Hsui-Ling) Morris, and children Esther and Titus of Downers Grove, Illinois; Thomas (Elizabeth) Kammerer and children Lucas, Madeline, Evan, and Katherine of Oswego, Illinois; Jon David (Katie) Kammerer and Hayden of Hamilton, Illinois; Gregg (Crista) Kammerer and Angel of Brentwood, Califoria; Lynne Kammerer and her daughter Karina of Hamilton, Illinois; Jaime Morris and her children Kyleah, Jaymison and Camdyn of Keokuk; Carly (Christopher) Williams of Evanston, Illinois; Kaitlin Morris and Gabe Payne and their daughter Scarlet of Keokuk and Alex Morris of Hamilton; brother-in-law, Earl (Mary Ellen) Morris of Hamilton; nephews; Don (Mary) Morris of New Buffalo, Michigan; Paul Morris of Ferguson, Missouri and Warren Morris of Oregon California.
In addition, she is survived by numerous cousins and great-nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister and brother-in-law Doris and Glenn Morris.

Funeral service were Friday, March 27, 2009 at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. Emmanuel Dass officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa.

A memorial has been established, to be distributed between Trinity United Methodist Church, P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund, Lee County Historical Society, Keokuk Art Center, Greater Keokuk Area Habitat For Humanity, and the American Cancer Society.

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