Robert (Bob) Wiley Morris

Robert (Bob) Wiley Morris, age 98, of Gatesville passed away Monday, July 18, 2016. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 7, 2016 at Scott’s Funeral Home in Gatesville. Interment will follow at Restland Cemetery. Bob was born on February 22, 1918 in Austin, Texas to the late John Wiley Morris and Vallie Val Verde Stubbs Morris. Bob left school early during The Great Depression, helping his parents on their farm on Walnut Creek and working at Heep’s Dairy. Subsequently, he became an apprentice plumber and worked on pre-war construction projects around the state of Texas. As one of the last members of the “Greatest Generation”, he served in the infantry during WWII building bridges across Europe to forge ahead of the front to overcome the Nazi’s. After the war, he returned to Austin and continued in plumbing construction, ultimately becoming a master plumber and starting his own plumbing contracting business. In 1968, Bob retired and bought his much loved ranch near Gatesville on the Leon River, where he continued to farm and ranch, raising crops, cattle, and goats. He also took on an occasional plumbing project for area residents. Bob loved boating, fishing, and hunting, which he taught his children and grandchildren to enjoy as well. He loved anything with a motor, especially motorcycles, which he raced on dirt tracks as a young man, and owned many “bikes”, boats, and ATV’s over the years. In his late 80’s, he bought a Chrysler convertible, which he loved driving with the top down. He always loved a good “fish fry” with his family and friends and an occasional game of dominoes. Bob and Ophelia were active members of First Baptist Church of Gatesville, and in later years they travelled extensively and were members of two RV clubs. In his late 70’s, Bob suffered two bisected aortic aneurysms which left him partially paralyzed. Even this didn’t deter him, as he continued to drive, ride motorcycles, and live his life to the fullest. Bob had a strong, stubborn but likeable personality, with tenacity and fortitude. These were among the many valuable life lessons he taught his children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Wiley Morris and Vallie Val Verde Stubbs Morris; his wife of 63 years, Ophelia Russell Morris; and his daughter, Betty Morris Porterfield. Bob is survived by his daughters, Janell Morris Robertson and husband, Noel, and Karen Morris; son, Kurtlan Wiley Morris; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank A Serene Setting assisted living facility in Round Rock, Texas and their staff for the their loving care and Resolution Hospice Care for the valuable nursing and social services they provided.