Jean M. Morris

Jean McAnally Morris was born April 20, 1922, in Waco, Texas, and moved back to Parker county at age 2 with her parents. She spent her entire life in Parker county. Jean died April 11, 2020, after a short illness, just 9 days short of her 98th birthday. Jean grew up in the Veal’s station and Annetta areas of Parker county, daughter of Thomas Owen and Clota Vaughan McAnally, granddaughter of John Roger and Margaret Samantha Kutch McAnally and William Cornelius and Mary Alberta Bell Vaughan. All four grandparents were early Parker county residents, and her parents lived all but two years of their lives in Parker County. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Turner Morris, also a lifelong Parker county resident, along with her parents, grandparents, and one brother John Roger McAnally. 

Jean is survived by her brother Charles Vaughan McAnally (Nell), and three children - Charles Richard Morris (Doris), Jenny Morris Lewallen (Milton), and Vaughan Owen Morris (Margaret). She was also grandmother to Kerry Morris Gilb (Tony), Scot Morris (Pennissi), Jason Lewallen (Willa), and Shelley Lewallen Staten (Mike), along with 8 great grandchildren – Jakob Morris, Avery Morris, Luke Morris, Annie Gilb, Mason Gilb, Andrew Palmer, Caleb Staten and Leah Staten. 

Jean lived a long and full life of love, service to others, good humor, and sharp wit. Jean was ahead of her time. She graduated from Aledo High School in 1939 and was actually the salutatorian, but because she was a “girl“ the school principal gave the honor to the highest ranking boy. That bothered her to the end of her life. She graduated from Weatherford College in 1941 at a time when most women were expected to stay at home and be homemakers. Jean and Charles married in April 1942, and she spent most of the first three years of their married life separated by WWII. They were part of the Greatest Generation. They had a long and happy marriage of almost 68 years until his passing in 2010. 

Mom was the true matriarch of our family, hosting holiday and family get-togethers until her health and strength wouldn’t let her, but she still was “in charge.” Mom was a classy lady in every sense of the word. She never left the house without looking her best. She even did that while at home when no one was around. She loved to dress up and even in her later months wouldn’t go down to dinner at her assisted living facility without her make-up. She loved to entertain and decorate and was still decorating her room with spring flowers last week. Mom loved to cook and entertain for family and friends. Mom and Dad both loved to get family together for big meals and visiting. She was very disappointed when it became too difficult to do in her later years. Even when we would bring in dinner to her, she would always have the table set perfectly. 

She followed 3 different careers in her work life - the lumber business, banking, and real estate. We always thought in a later generation she would have been a real estate developer. She was opinionated and would definitely let you know what she thought, and she had a great sense of humor. 

Jean was flexible and adaptable even at the end of her life. Family couldn’t be with her in the hospital during her last hours because of COVID-19 restrictions. She understood and accepted it. 

The family is grateful beyond words to Cheryl, nurse at Harris hospital, who sat with her for several hours and held her hand as she took her final breaths.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions there was a private family burial at Clark Cemetery on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Please do not send flowers