Gary William Morris of Lake Tapps, WA passed away unexpectedly after a medical procedure on Sunday January 18, 2015. Gary was born October 28, 1944 in Hartford, CT and graduated from Windsor High School, Windsor CT in 1963. He attended Franklin Pierce College in Rindge New Hampshire and University of Hartford in CT.
He recently attended his 51st high school reunion and found great pleasure in connecting with his friends remembering all the good times during those years. He then travelled to Killington, VT to reconnect with his friends there. He was able to meet and have fun with his two great-nephews, his friend he has known since childhood, and his extended CT family.
In the early years he worked for CT Teachers Retirement Board and Kaman Aircraft Corp. He left corporate America to work at his passions in the ski industry where he followed the snow, the sailboard industry, and the computer industry.
Gary lived a passionate life! He married Linda B. Morris in 1988 after he had moved to WA in 1979. She was always the love of his life! They grew up across the street from each other in Windsor and reunited in 1981.
Gary was inventive, resourceful, funny, and creative. He and his wife Linda founded Microtech, Inc. in Seattle in 1985, and he worked in many capacities in the world of computers.
He was always a trend setter and a good earth steward. He ran his 1984 Mercedes on waste vegetable oil, and got a WA law passed to make waste vegetable oil as a fuel legal. He recycled or repurposed everything. During retirement he followed new passions, volunteering for the City of Pacific Senior Center, for various political campaigns, and the Auburn International Farmer's Market.
Gary is survived by wife Linda Morris, his mother Pauline Morris of Ft. Myers, FL, his sister in law Pat Morris and niece Airen Morris Perry and her sons and many other loving family members and friends. May Gary's memory be a blessing.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary's memory may be sent to Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue and the Auburn Farmer's Market.
Tributes
Alex & Sandy wrote on Jan 21, 2015:
"Gary was my friend since the mid sixties. When he tired of Louisiana, he came to the northwest in his Airstream and shared my home for about year before moving on to his own property. He was a master of many skills, among which were cars, skis and computers. He wasn?t just willing to help, he sought opportunities to do so; whether offering advice about some obscure computer problem, turning a wrench or supervising construction of a home. Yes, he did that for me. Knowing it was a matter of time before my mother could no longer live alone, he learned of land for sale on his street which I purchased. Because I spent most of my time in Connecticut caring for my mom, he found and supervised many contractors. His toil facilitated my efforts to bring my mother to an adapted house and to care for at home. Gary was also very sensitive about right and wrong. He didn?t recognize the ?gray? area that at times befuddles many of us. Sandy gave him the unofficial title of ?Sheriff of A Street? because he looked after his neighbors as a lifeguard would attend to a pool or an ocean beach. ?A? street won?t be the same without Sheriff Gary ? we will miss him ? a lot."
Marcia Miller wrote on Jan 20, 2015:
"All my heartfelt condolences to you, my dear cousin, along with my best wishes for strength and serenity as you remember the good times and find your way ahead. I love you."
Andy and Darcie Hanson wrote on Jan 20, 2015:
"Linda, our thoughts and prayers are with you at the sad news of Gary's passing. Gary was a great guy and neighbor. Let us know if you need anything. The Hanson Family"