William George Morris

WILLIAM G. MORRIS 1944 ~ 2018 William G. Morris (Bill the Dad), 73, of Vancouver, WA, passed away at home with his wife by his side on Jan. 11, 2018 after a long battle with a rare heart disease. Born to Mable and George Morris in 1944, Bill grew up a "small town boy" in Maupin, OR where he wrestled and played baseball in high school. He worked summers at the Maupin saw mill to pay his way through college and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1966. A young man who liked adventure, Bill went straight from college to the Peace Corps and spent two years as one of the earliest volunteers in Columbia, South America working with Columbian youth. He continued that work with youth when he returned and began as a group worker at Multnomah County Juvenile Court in 1968 where he stayed until he retired in 2004 as Manager of Counseling and Court Services. Bill met his future wife Betty Sue Price in a graduate class at the University of Portland. She and her 6 year-old daughter Ann were a "package deal." They married in December of 1970 and son William Peyton was born in 1972. They moved from Portland to Vancouver that same year and have lived here since. He earned his Masters Degree in 1971. The Clark College Board of Trustees (1986 - 1996), the Pioneer Airport Advisory Commission (1986 - 1990) and publisher of the volunteer newspaper The Hazel Dell Gazette (1973 - 1978) were just a few of his community commitments. He was a generous donor to organizations that fed the hungry. Bill was an avid sportsman. He rode Cycle Oregon three times, finished the Vancouver Lake Triathalon in 1985 and played tennis. But it was golf he truly loved, spending most of his time in retirement on the course. His proudest accomplishment was a hole in one on the 11th at Tri Mountain Golf Course. Bill is survived by his wife, Betty Sue; his children, Bill and Ann; a sister, Lila Lee Barr of Prineville, OR; numerous nieces and nephews; and two dogs, Marco Polo and Sadie Sue, whom he loved in abundance. A Celebration of Bill's life will be held at one of his favorite places, Tri Mountain Golf Course, 4p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 27, 2018. All who wish to join are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to North County Community Food Bank, 17 NE Third Ave., Battle Ground, WA 98604 or to FISH of Vancouver Food Pantry, 906 Harney St., Vancouver, WA 98660. Please sign his guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

William George Morris

April 9, 1944 - January 11, 2018