Michael Gene "Mike" Morriss

Michael Morriss went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, March 16, 2023 in his home in Waynesville, Missouri at the age of 54 years old. Mike was born on November 8, 1968 in the Missouri Methodist Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri to his parents Erv and Susan Morriss. His family moved to Waynesville shortly after where he attended the Waynesville School District and graduated in 1986. Mike later earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Drury University, Masters in Educational Administration from Missouri State University, and a Specialist in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University. Mike met Jeanne Broom while doing a practicum at Bowerman Elementary School in Springfield, Missouri where she was completing her student teaching. They married four years later on April 3, 1993 in the Waynesville United Methodist Church where he was a member. Mike and Jeanne were blessed with three children Makayla, Jacob, and Eric. Mike was an educator and administrator with the Waynesville School District for 26 years where he served as an elementary teacher at Thayer Elementary, golf coach for Waynesville High School, assistant principal and later head principal of East Elementary, principal of Pershing Elementary, and principal of Freedom Elementary. Mike was proud that he had an instrumental part in the development of Freedom Elementary where he became Freedom’s first principal serving there for 11 years before retiring in 2017. Mike excelled in athletics while in school going to state for tennis and basketball in high school and later playing on the golf team for Drury University in Springfield. In Mike’s spare time he spent many weekends playing golf with his dad and friends. He was an avid golfer with a true love for the game. Making a hole in one was something Mike did on more than a few occasions and was the kind of player that others wanted on their team. Mike was the President of the Men’s Golf Association for the Piney Valley Golf Course organizing the Benefit Tournament held each summer raising money for local organizations. If Mike wasn’t on the golf course, he was coaching one of Makayla, Jacob, or Eric’s sports team. Mike coached their soccer, t-ball, baseball, football, and basketball teams from the time Jacob was four until Eric was 16. Mike’s dedication to teaching and coaching impacted hundreds of lives instilling the love of learning and sports. Mike leaves behind his wife, Jeanne, of the home, Makayla Rincon (JuJuan) of Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Jacob Morriss of Aiea, Hawaii, Eric Morriss of Phoenix, Arizona, three grandchildren: JuJuan Jr, Enslee, and Ava Rincon, parents Erv and Susan Morriss, sister Lindy McKinnon, and several nieces and nephews. Mike is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Maxine and Gene Farnham, and paternal grandparents, William and Mary Elma Morriss. Mike loved and was proud of his community, the Waynesville School District, the Waynesville United Methodist Church, and above all else loved his family with all his heart and will dearly be missed by many. Funeral services were held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2023 in the Waypoint United Methodist Church of Waynesville, Missouri with Pastor Brett Reith officiating. Jim Wilking, Jim Robbins, Mike Keeling, and Liz Rawlings all recalled their wonderful memories of Mike. The songs "What a Wonderful World", "Bridge of Troubled Waters", "Tears in Heaven" and "Amazing Grace" were played by Pianist Cheryl Wood. Serving as escorts were Karl Wilking, Scott Kempen, Mike Thompson, JuJuan Rincon, Brian Vernon, and Davin Vernon. Burial followed in the Waynesville Memorial Park Cemetery of Waynesville, MO. Services are under the care and direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/St. Robert. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mike Morriss to the Waypoint United Methodist Church of Waynesville or the Waynesville High School Tiger Athletic Booster Club and may be left at Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/St. Robert.

Michael Gene "Mike" Morriss

November 8, 1968 - March 16, 2023