Thomas Ward Morris

Thomas Ward Morris, 85, of Brownsmead, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011, in Portland.

He was born Nov. 24, 1925, in Steamboat Springs, Colo., to Estis Clifford Morris and Bertha Ellen Ward.

Raised in Colorado, he attended schools in Grand Junction, Colo.

On Feb. 15, 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served in the South Pacific and was stationed in Honolulu. He was honorably discharged in April 1946.

On June 6, 1953, he married Adora Mae Bagby in Astoria. She survives at the family home in Brownsmead.

Mr. Morris received his training to be a mechanic in Kansas City and Los Angeles. He worked as a mechanic in various cities in Colorado, California and Oregon. In 1951, he came to Astoria and worked at Tongue Point as a mechanic for the government. He also worked at Garcia Ford in Astoria (now Astoria Ford) for a few years. He retired in 1965.

Family members said his hobbies included boating and hunting.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Eva Perkins and her husband, Richard, of Astoria, and Jeannie Hartmann of Washington; a daughter-in-law, Darlene Morris of Milwaukie; a sister, Georgiana Kinder of Grand Junction; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Chuck Morris; a son-in-law, Hal Hartmann; two brothers, Larry and Timothy Morris; and a sister, Lillie Barrett.

Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 19, and Friday, May 20, at Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Mountain View Cemetery, 500 Hilda St. in Oregon City.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Natural Kidney Foundation of Oregon, 465 N.E. 181st Ave., Suite 257, Portland, OR 97230 or Lions Eye Bank of Oregon, 2201 S.E. 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97214-5303.

An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com