Iris Opal Dukes Morris

Iris Dukes Morris was born on October 19, 1925 in Norway, South Carolina and died on December 20, 2016 in Conroe, Texas. She was the first child of Dannie Lee and Anemone Dukes. She held the honor of being the first grandchild on either side of the family, though that didn’t last very long as a little baby brother came along, soon followed by a little baby sister. She graduated from Willow High School in Norway at the beginning of World War II. As so many at that time, she willingly gave her time to the war effort, and was employed at the Naval Shipyard in Charleston, SC. At the end of the war she moved to Longview, Texas, where she was one of the earlier employees of R.G. LeTourneau, at that time, designer and manufacturer of heavy construction equipment, now LeTourneau University. In 1946 she met the love of her life, Gordon Morris, who was home on leave from active duty in the Navy. On January 5, 1948 they were married in Norway, SC. After Gordon graduated from LSU they began an interesting career with The California Company, now Chevron. After working in Mississippi, Colorado, Wyoming and Louisiana he accepted a foreign assignment, spending the next 14 years in Tripoli, Libya and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. These assignments offered business and pleasure travels in more than 50 foreign countries and afforded the opportunity to visit each of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. She enjoyed entertaining many friends, neighbors, and business visitors who came from all over the world, thereby learning about their cultures, their values and their beliefs. Upon retirement in 1984 they moved to Elkins Lake where they designed and built their retirement home, which was known for its “Church Wall”, displaying 80 some framed pictures of houses of worship from all over the world. Retirement to Elkins Lake was the beginning of making many new friends in The Newcomers Club, Ladies Golf Association and an active member of First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers. She is survived by her husband, for 68 years, Gordon Morris of Huntsville, TX, and son, Lee Morris and his wife, Lisa, of Katy, Texas. Also surviving is one sister, Rose Dukes, of Norway, SC. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 Normal Park Drive, Huntsville, Texas. Memorial service will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday, December 29, 2016 in the chapel of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Jason Bay and Carrol Williams. Private interment at Houston National Cemetery. For those so desiring, memorials may be made to Boys and Girls Country, 18806 Roberts Road, Hockley, TX 77447 or First Baptist Church, 1229 Ave J, Huntsville, TX 77340, to Children’s and Youth Department.

Iris Opal Dukes Morris

October 19, 1925 - December 20, 2016