Walter Ray Morris

WALTER RAY MORRIS passed away on November 12, 2023, peacefully, with some of his family by him. Ray was born in Pioche, Nevada to Neil L Morris and Francis Udora Hollinger Morris on June 7, 1951, sharing a birthday with his Uncle Walter Hollinger. Ray was physically challenged from birth and yet he had a beautiful life from his point of view, and that of those who knew and loved him.

Ray was able to accomplish many things - far above and beyond any expectations for him as a baby and as a youth. His life has been an amazing journey for all of us. We have been challenged and blessed with knowing Ray as a brother, an Uncle, a nephew, a cousin, as a roommate, as a schoolmate - everyone who knew him loved him. Ray loved music. Rhythm was in his bones and his blood. He liked to keep a beat on the floor with his leg braces when he was a young boy. His favorite gifts were musical items - drums, castanets, records, cd's, radios, and of course television. He loved painstakingly flipping through magazines, and watching exercise routines - with music- on television. He loved Holidays - especially Christmas and his Birthday. He loved going "home" for visits with siblings and family. He had a good mind paired with limited ability to communicate and function easily, but he carried on and his voice was heard and understood by many. He defied his limitations and pushed his abilities in every direction and grew, and walked, and talked, and thought, far beyond any general expectations. Those of us who knew and loved him knew he would conquer and grow from each challenge.

But it was Ray's time to rest and let his body and mind find freedom from restraints. Ray will be missed by all his families - his birth family and his companions in daily living at his group home and school. Ray's family will be forever grateful for the love and help given to Ray at his Jones Court Group Home by his care givers and his companions. We also want to give many thanks to the Columbus Community Center and Workshop and to those who loved and cared for him there.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Neil and Udora Morris, and his brother-in-law Gary Hutchinson. Ray is survived by his Morris siblings Marsha, Larry, Melinda, Tresia, Lavon, their spouses Hugh, Laura, Bud, and Jane, and his many nieces and nephews and great one - he loved the little ones. Ray also loved his aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Morris and Hollinger sides of his family tree. Thank you, God, for our brother Ray, and for helping him find peace, and please handle him with loving care.

Funeral services will be held Saturday Nov 18, 2023, at 12pm (noon), with a viewing beginning at 11 am, at the McDougal Funeral Home located at 4330 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah.

Those wishing to livestream the service may do so at the following link:  https://vimeo.com/event/3882611

But in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Columbus Community Center at the following link:  https://www.columbusserves.org/