Mary Morris

Mary M. Morris, age 71, of Nixa, MO passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, in Springfield, MO. Mary and her husband Don, had just celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on August 31, 2013, with their family as they treated Mary and Don to a memorable weekend of fellowship and an anniversary dinner, highlighted by a showing of old Super 8 movies of the family when they were younger. Earlier In the summer, Don had given Mary an 11 day trip to Italy and France as her anniversary gift. Mary was born in St. Elmo, IL, the third child of Charles and Alma Tullis. The family soon moved to Southeastern Kansas, where Mary spent her childhood growing up on a farm. She graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1959. After graduation she worked as a bank teller in Parsons, KS and then moved to Tulsa, OK, where she met her soon to be husband. Following Don's college graduation, Mary and Don were married in 1963 in the Bartlett, KS United Methodist Church. Mary relocated numerous times in support of her husband's education and career. She lived in Evanston, IL (4 years), Palo Alto, CA (1 year), Kirkwood, MO (25 years) where her children were raised; Eldorado, AR (6 years), and Nixa, MO (12 years). She was a devoted Christian woman, and for the past 12 years has attended Aldersgate Methodist Church in Nixa. In her younger years, she enjoyed playing tennis, golf, gardening, bridge, and she loved to dance (Rock & Roll and The Twist). She was a Cub Scout Den and Pack leader and worked a number of years at the Kirkwood R-7 school district. Upon becoming a grandmother, Mary would have themed tea parties for her grandchildren, and neighbor children which became the highlight of her summers. She was famous among her grandchildren for her Mac & Cheese dinners. The birth of her most recent grandchildren in the Springfield area brought her overwhelming joy. Mary always loved babies. Mary was a devoted mother, always putting her children's needs before her own. In addition to her husband, Mary is survived by her first born son Scott and his wife Claudine and their two children, Gibson and Carlton; son Darren and his wife Jessica; daughter Leigh Fowler and her husband Ken and their two children Lily and Frank; her daughter Leslie; her mother, Alma Tullis; her sisters Evelyn Noone and Roberta Morrison, and two brothers Richard and Kenneth. Mary was preceded in death by an infant son, Brandon Layne; her father Charles Tullis; and a brother, Clifford. Memorial services for Mary will be at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, September 28, 2013, in Aldersgate United Methodist Church of Nixa, MO. Visitation will be held from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa.