George Sawyer Morris

George Morris, 95, passed away September 17, 2016 at the Madison County Memorial Hospital in Winterset, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 23, 2016 at Winterset First United Methodist Church with burial at Winterset Cemetery. Friends may call after 3:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22 at the church where family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. George Sawyer Morris was born to Sydney Hulme and Margaret Pearl Morris June 28, 1921. George was delivered by his Aunt, Dr. Grace Sawyer. He was born on his grandparents, John Boone and Barbara Drake Sawyer’s, farm near Stanzel in Adair County, Iowa. George celebrated his first birthday at Saratoga, Wyoming at the Canary Ranch after his family pulled up roots in Adair County and moved to Wyoming. They later returned to Iowa. He attended rural school and graduated valedictorian from Winterset High School in 1938. George graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering and later served in the United States Navy during World War II. He witnessed the Japanese surrender, from his ship in Tokyo Bay, at the end of the war. On September 19, 1953 he married Maxine Shorb Ritter. They raised their family and farmed the family farm overlooking Middle River in Webster Township. George was preceded in death by his wife, parents and sister Margaret Clark, also of Winterset. He is survived by his two sons George Sterling Morris and wife Sally of Winterset, and Craig F. Morris and his two daughters Elizabeth Grace Morris of Los Angeles, CA and Ana Sawyer Morris of Pullman, WA; and their mother Kay Duffens Morris of Pullman, WA. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Rollins of Fort Dodge, Iowa. George enjoyed and was very dedicated to farming. He was a Pioneer Seed Corn dealer for 36 years. He won numerous Iowa Master Corn Growers Contests. George was a member of the Winterset First United Methodist Church and served in many capacities and was also active in Methodist Men. He served on the Winterset School Board. During his tenure they incorporated the rural school system into the current Winterset Community School System. The new high school was also built while he was serving on the school board. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. Memorials may be directed to the Winterset First United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be left on this site.