Ivan Morris

Miles Ivan Morris-beloved husband, devoted father, loving grandfather and great-grandfather-passed away on August 28, 2016, with his wife at his side. He died following a valiant two-week battle after suffering a stroke. Ivan was born March 19, 1935, in Declo, Idaho, to Charles Edward Morris and Ravernal Ellsworth. He was the second of three sons. When Ivan was five years old, his father was killed in a work-related accident. His mother subsequently married Clarence Nelson Allen. Raised in Idaho, California and Oregon, Ivan credited his step-father with teaching him to work, dream and seek adventure. As a young man, Ivan learned to raise chickens, milk dairy cows and work in the logging trade. While attending junior high school, he gained a love of math and mastered the Palmer method of penmanship-two skills that later served him in his profession as a civil engineer. He graduated in 1952 from Chico High School in Chico, California. To earn money for college, he worked at a sawmill, dairy farm and lumber company. He studied applied science and engineering at Chico State College, where he also earned a varsity letter in boxing. While attending college, he began dating Jerry Dell Carter. They married on February 6, 1955. During his junior year, Gate City Steel in Boise, Idaho, hired him as a structural steel draftsman. Later he did drafting work at the Titan Missile Base in Mountain Home, Idaho, and then worked as an assistant chief engineer for San Jose Steel in California. In 1964 he went to work for M. M. Sundt Construction Company. Work for M. M. Sundt took Ivan and his family to Nevada, back to California and then to Tucson, Arizona, where the family lived for ten years while his sons attended high school. He left Sundt in 1980 and then went to work for Southwest Tank and Steel Fabricators in Las Cruces. He eventually started his own company, Sun State Steel. He was always a good provider. After his wife and sons were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) on October 26, 1968, he became an active member of the Church. A year later, on November 18, 1969, Ivan and Jerry were sealed in the LDS Church's Oakland California Temple and had their sons sealed to them. Ivan credited the gospel of Jesus Christ with helping him to live a productive and honorable life and to value family and Church above all else. He served the Church in a variety of capacities, including as a teacher, elders quorum president, high priests group leader and branch president. He also served as a Scoutmaster for several decades, blessing the lives of countless young men-including his sons-with his outdoor skills. From May 2006 to November 2007, he and Jerry volunteered as service missionaries in the LDS Church's Florida Orlando Mission, working at the Church's Deseret Cattle and Citrus Ranch and serving as temple workers in the Orlando Florida Temple. Upon their return, they oversaw work in the Church's dry cannery in Las Cruces. Ivan was a talented carpenter and handyman who could fix anything. He passed his work ethic on to his sons, teaching them that if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing right. He never finished his college degree, but thanks to his support and encouragement, his sons finished theirs. He enjoyed reading, public speaking, political discussions, and walks with Jerry and their dogs. He bowled, golfed, played bridge and pinochle, and taught his children and grandchildren to play cribbage. Occasionally, he would even let them win. He also enjoyed catching crawdads with his grandchildren. When his sons were young, he taught them to play baseball and volunteered as their coach. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, taking his family on many memorable fishing and hunting trips. Ivan is survived by his loving wife, Jerry, with whom he celebrated his 61st wedding anniversary in February; three sons and two-daughters-in-law: Mark Ivan, Michael Ray and Susan, and Martin Dane and Symony; brother George and sister-in-law Joan; step-sister Mary Lou Johnson; aunt Geraldine Alexander; and 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Wayne; step-brothers Blue, Barry and Darold; step-sister Shirley Taylor; and daughter-in-law Beth. Family and friends are invited to remember and celebrate Ivan's life on Saturday, September 3, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2915 East Idaho Ave. A viewing will begin at 9:00 a.m., following by funeral services at 10:00 a.m. Dedication of the grave will occur that afternoon at the Hillcrest Memorial Garden Cemetery, 5140 W. Picacho Ave. PDF Printable Version