Francis Wilbur "Bill" Morrison, 83, of Keene, was laid to rest next to Grace Jewel Hatley Morrison on July 20 in Eagle, Idaho.
Mr. Morrison died July 13, 1999, just days before his 84th birthday, at Vencor Fort Worth Southwest.
Bill was born July 18, 1915 in Eagle, Idaho, and was graduated from Middleton (ID) High School on May 10, 1934. He was a 17-year resident of Keene and a member of the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church, as well as the Wally Bynum Caravaners Club International .
He had previously enjoyed traveling with his wife of 33 years, Grace, in their Airstream travel trailer; teaching woodcarving at Hill Junior College, et al; reading Westerns; collecting Kachina dolls and Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey books; and, collecting honorary children and grandchildren. Before he moved to Keene, he was a Stop-Smoking Clinic director and Pathfinder leader at the Van Nuys SDA Church for many years. He was known by most Van Nuys SDA children as "Grampa". Moving to Johnson County he became known as "teacher" as he could scarce go anywhere without bumping into a carving pupil.
As a boy his family ran an inn at Smith's Ferry, Idaho. At his Middleton High 60th reunion he wasn't remembered as "Bill" or "Wilbur." It was not until he introduced himself as "Dot's owner" that people recognized him as "the guy with the dog."
A veteran of WWII, and a Master Mason , his colorful history included working for Al Capone, Howard Hughes, and appearing in the 1926 version of "Ben-Hur" and other Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films. After refusing to accommodate a labor union near Provo, Utah, he was pulverized by Jack Dempsey's sparring partner.
Bill said he tried to live his life by his favorite Bible text, The 23rd Psalm , which was ironic as his disdain for sheep and shepherds was so notorious it became funny.
Preceded in death by wives Violet LaPreal Noakes Morrison (b. 4 Aug 1918, Pocatello, ID; m. 19 March 1938; d. 19 March 1947, Los Angeles, CA); Josephine Frances Baum Marcy Morrison (b. 9 May 1912, Montreal; d. 5 Nov 1962); and, Grace Jewel Hatley Morrison (b. 28 July 1911; m. 14 August 1963; d. 23 April 1997). Grace was his strength and made him the man his grandchildren knew. He wasn't the same without her.
He is survived by daughter Alice (and Morris ) Cummings of Keene; son Larry (and Donna) Morrison of Monett, MO; sister-in-law Louise Baum Eitelman of Keene; adopted-son David (and JoAnn) Petersen of Keene; stepdaughter JoAnne Marcy (and George) Liner of Hixson, TN; stepson Bob (and Sheri) Marcy of KY; granddaughters Christine (and Alan , Nicole Violet LaPreal, and Kilory Violet LaPreal ) Weis of Keene, Deanne (and Richard) Dain of Ione, CA, and Brenda (and Art and Bryce) Goetsch of Perry, OK; grandson James (and Melissa, Brandi Jo and Katlyn) Morrison of Monett, MO; Everett (and Mary) Morrison of Boise, ID, Marge Raff, of La Grande, OR, Virginia Holmes of Gresham, OR; "grandson," and Keene city attorney, Rick Pollick (et al) ; "grandsons" Dennis and Don Petersen (et al) of Fort Worth and Brisbane, CA; "grandsons" Greg and Scott Hofer (et al) of TN and PA; five blood-related great-grandchildren, six non-related; and hordes of others who claimed him as their own.

Bill's 82nd Birthday Party