Russell Morris, Sr.

Russell Mirt Morris Sr., of Stilwell, Oklahoma was born on September 24, 1946, to Hayse and Evie Jewell Isaacs-Morris in Mt. Vernon, Ky., and left this world to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday February 24, 2023 at the age of 76 years and five months.

Russell was a Christian who loved the Lord with all his heart. He was proud to be a veteran of the U.S. Army and a survivor of the Vietnam War. He was also quite a ladies man in his younger years, and the diversity of his children are a testament to that fact.

In 1969 he met the woman who he would eventually marry for the rest of his life, Reba Cooper, when her brother Smiley brought his new friend home. The two would make a home, in the community of Spade Mountain, where his momma is buried; having sworn to never leave her. He fulfilled that promise by remaining in the area for the remainder of his time on Earth.

Russell was a man who made friends wherever he went. He always told everyone that his youngest daughter never met a stranger but the truth is, she had learned it from him. He was quite handy and also a mechanic who loved to tinker with cars though he collected them far more than he ever had time to fix them. He also had the greenest thumb and was known to take the plants people had killed and bring them back to life.

For a career Russell chose to be a truck driver and had travelled to nearly every state in the U.S. He also guided many others into the profession, coaching them along the way, including a son and grandson; as well as many nephews. His desire to always hurry and get back home was something anyone who ever travelled with him learned quickly. The race to get to destinations was something that just never left. He had to retire due to the effects of being exposed to Agent Orange while fighting in the war, but truckers never truly retire because when he was able to travel, he and Reba did.

Russell and Reba were lovers of church camps within the Church of Christ and travelled to too many to count over the course of their marriage. He also loved to spend time with his children anytime he could and loved having many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He absolutely loved babies, especially taking headbands with a bow off the head of little girls always saying we were cutting off the circulation to their brains.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, George Hayse and Evie Jewell Morris, and five siblings, Jearl Dean Morris, Bonnie Rhodes, Jack Morris, Betty Rhodes, Bernice Cromer, his twin sister Nettie Rose (Rosie) Vandenburgh, and an infant son, Christopher Harvannus Morris.

He is survived by his wife Reba Morris, of Stilwell; Brother, George Morris and wife Retha, of Stilwell; Sister Vivian Davis and husband Shawn Davis, of Siloam Springs, Ar., Daughter, Angela Davenport and husband Steve, of Glendale, Az; Son, Arnold Brant and wife Lori, of Topeka, Ks; Daughter, Teresa Morris of Bella Vista, Ar; Son, Russell Morris Jr. and wife Judy, of Westville; Daughter, Christina Gordon, of Brandon, Fl; and Daughter, R. Renee Morris, of Stilwell, OK.

Twenty-five grand-children; Therron Humphrey, Tatum Seaton, Chade Seaton, Sydney Seaton, Kelly Long, Johannes Morris, Anthony Morris, Dalton Gordon, Seth Gordon, Destiny Gordon, Payton Davenport, Spencer Brant, Shian Brant, Michael Barnett Jr., Cody Barnett, Tyler Barnett, Chuckie Owens, Damian Owens, Trevor King, Amanda and Amber King, Billy Ames, Vincent Lopez, and Vivian and Vanessa Lopez. Eleven great-grandkids; Arihana, Addison, Nolan, Emery, Kambree, Kai, Pryor, Brooklyn, Rayen, Savanah, and Stella. Along with many nephews, nieces, family members, and dear friends.