1937
Polly
2009
Polly Juanita Morris
June 13, 1937 — July 19, 2009
Polly Juanita McDowell Morris 72, formerly of Collinwood, TN and Benton, TN passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 19th, 2009 at the Wayne County Nursing Home in Waynesboro, TN with her family at her bedside.
Mrs. Morris was the daughter of the late Theodore McDowell and Gladys Arp McDowell of Polk County, TN where she was born in 1937 in the small town of Benton. Her grandfather was a traveling physician through the small mountain communities of the Great Smokey Mountains and foothills. She was proud of the Cherokee Indian heritage shared through both her parents' families.
She met the father of her children, James Harold Morris of Wayne County, TN, who survives, while they were both living in Ohio. They were married from 1955 until 1992.
To cherish her memory are their three children, Brenda Thompson (Kenneth, Sr.), James Harold (Bo) Morris, Jr., Inkie West (Darrell), and former daughter-in-law, Pamela Morris all of the Collinwood, TN area; eight grandchildren, Rebecca Newborn (Brian), Kenneth Thompson, Jr., (April), Carrie Roberson (Jason), Christopher Morris (Sarah), Mandy Morris (Bobby), Jamie Keener (Jeremy), Emma Roberson (Jody), and Joe West; ten great-grandchildren; sisters, Madia Green, Nancy Bohlmer (Dennis), Flora Gilliland (Ronald) all of OH; brother, Earl McDowell (Phyllis) of NC; half-sisters, Margaret Miolen, Susie Lofton (Walter) all of Cleveland, TN; half-brother, John Swafford of Murphy, NC; nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother, Jim.
She was so proud of each of her children and grandchildren. She chose the name "Ma" before the first grandchild arrived and it suited her well. She was extremely talented in quilting, painting, and gardening, especially flowers. She loved gardening and was never without a bed of flowers regardless of how much work would be involved. She enjoyed being outdoors and loved to fish. She made and shared homemade jellies for many years. She also loved to read and could stay up all night with a thrilling novel. She had a special love for animals and many strays became beloved pets.
Services will be conducted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 2 pm at The Church of God, Southside in Cleveland, TN with Walter Lofton and David Bise officiating. Her body will lie-in-state at the church one hour before the services. Burial will follow in the Old Ocoee Cemetery in Benton, TN where many of her family are interred with Shackelford Funeral Directors of Wayne County, Waynesboro, TN assisting the family.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Butterfly Foundation in her memory and in honor of her first great-grandson, Andrew Newborn, whom she dearly loved. "Although Mom's strong love for independence, freedom, and privacy prevented her from accepting the limitation of illness and the need for the nursing home, the family is truly grateful for every effort made by the staff to make her as comfortable as possible."
Mrs. Morris was the daughter of the late Theodore McDowell and Gladys Arp McDowell of Polk County, TN where she was born in 1937 in the small town of Benton. Her grandfather was a traveling physician through the small mountain communities of the Great Smokey Mountains and foothills. She was proud of the Cherokee Indian heritage shared through both her parents' families.
She met the father of her children, James Harold Morris of Wayne County, TN, who survives, while they were both living in Ohio. They were married from 1955 until 1992.
To cherish her memory are their three children, Brenda Thompson (Kenneth, Sr.), James Harold (Bo) Morris, Jr., Inkie West (Darrell), and former daughter-in-law, Pamela Morris all of the Collinwood, TN area; eight grandchildren, Rebecca Newborn (Brian), Kenneth Thompson, Jr., (April), Carrie Roberson (Jason), Christopher Morris (Sarah), Mandy Morris (Bobby), Jamie Keener (Jeremy), Emma Roberson (Jody), and Joe West; ten great-grandchildren; sisters, Madia Green, Nancy Bohlmer (Dennis), Flora Gilliland (Ronald) all of OH; brother, Earl McDowell (Phyllis) of NC; half-sisters, Margaret Miolen, Susie Lofton (Walter) all of Cleveland, TN; half-brother, John Swafford of Murphy, NC; nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother, Jim.
She was so proud of each of her children and grandchildren. She chose the name "Ma" before the first grandchild arrived and it suited her well. She was extremely talented in quilting, painting, and gardening, especially flowers. She loved gardening and was never without a bed of flowers regardless of how much work would be involved. She enjoyed being outdoors and loved to fish. She made and shared homemade jellies for many years. She also loved to read and could stay up all night with a thrilling novel. She had a special love for animals and many strays became beloved pets.
Services will be conducted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 2 pm at The Church of God, Southside in Cleveland, TN with Walter Lofton and David Bise officiating. Her body will lie-in-state at the church one hour before the services. Burial will follow in the Old Ocoee Cemetery in Benton, TN where many of her family are interred with Shackelford Funeral Directors of Wayne County, Waynesboro, TN assisting the family.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Butterfly Foundation in her memory and in honor of her first great-grandson, Andrew Newborn, whom she dearly loved. "Although Mom's strong love for independence, freedom, and privacy prevented her from accepting the limitation of illness and the need for the nursing home, the family is truly grateful for every effort made by the staff to make her as comfortable as possible."
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Polly Juanita Morris, please visit our flower store.
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