Ethel May Morrison

Ethel May Morrison, 84, of Burlington Junction, MO, was the daughter of Jesse Clyde and Verda Ethel (Allen) Geyer, and was born on August 22, 1929, at the country home near Martinsville, MO. She attended schools here till the family moved to Tarkio, MO, where she attended school there till she started working at Townsend Furniture Store.

Ethel was married to Frederick Eugene Worl on January 30, 1945, in Craig, MO. To this marriage, she was blessed with two sons, Francis (Bud) Eugene Worl and James (Jim) Lee Worl. On December 24, 1956, Ethel married Martin Mitchalin Morrison at his home in Tarkio, MO. Present at the wedding were his three children, Martin (Mick) Matchalin Morrison, Charles (Chuck) Leland Morrison, and Mary Alice Morrison, and Ethel’s sons, Bud and Jim.

Ethel was a stay-at-home mom till she and Martin had their own tractor repair shop. For six years, she was the bookkeeper and secretary. In 1967, Ethel started working at Clardy’s Department Store until she and Martin moved to Burlington Junction, MO. She then worked as a cook at the Quitman School. In 1977, they moved to Centralia, KS, to be near Martin’s sisters and brothers. Ethel worked at the local restaurant, Joyce’s Café. They moved back to Burlington Junction in 1979. She was then employed by the I.A.M.O. Telephone Company and worked at both the Coin, IA, and Burlington Junction offices. She retired in 1998.

She spent her retirement years volunteering at the United Methodist Church, and the local American Legion Auxiliary, Rolla Dicks AL Unit 315. Ethel was a Sunday school teacher for 48 years. She had a 40-year membership pin from the Legion Auxiliary. Ethel had been an active member of the United Methodist Women for 42 years, was U.M.W. President for the last 15 years, and church treasurer for
the past 22 years.

Ethel’s hobbies included collecting spoons, Norman Rockwell, Nativity sets, red glassware, angels, crocheting, and quilting. After Martin got sick, she made over 65 afghans and 35 quilts to give away to family and friends. Ethel said that many people might not know that as a child she loved to ride horses. Her favorite horse was named “Paul Smith” who was named after the man that her Grandpa bought the horse from. Ethel was an avid reader, especially the Bible. She used to say her favorite scripture was ‘whatever she was reading at the time.’ She also enjoyed listening to music, watching musicals, and traveling. Her favorite song was by Bill and Gloria Gaither entitled “Because
He Lives.”

Ethel May Morrison passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at the Heartland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, MO.

Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 AM, on Saturday, September 7, 2013, at the United Methodist Church in Burlington Junction, MO. The service will be conducted by Rev. Norma Villagrana and Pastor Sue Horvath, and will be under the direction of the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO. Inurnment will be later at the Ohio Cemetery, Burlington Junction, MO. No formal visitation is planned.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Verda Geyer, her husband, Martin Morrison, her son, Mick Morrison; 3 sisters and 3 brothers.

Survivors include her children, Bud (Jean) Worl, Lewisville, TX; Jim (Linda) Worl, Gainesville, GA; Chuck (Cathy) Morrison, Tuttle, OK; and Maryalice (Wayne) Staples, Burlington Junction, MO; sister, Linda (Wayne) Steinke, Burlington Junction, MO; ten grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as her Methodist Church family and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Burlington Junction United Methodist Church or the Rolla Dicks American Legion Post 315.