C.W. "Mort" Morrison

BURNSIDE, Ill. -- C.W. "Mort" Morrison, 85, of rural Burnside, died at 4:15 p.m. Monday (March 24, 2014) in LaHarpe-Davier Health Care Center, LaHarpe.

Mort was born on March 16, 1929, in Kimball, Neb. He was a son of William Wayne Morrison and Mildred Zeta Leachman Morrison. On June 17, 1950, he married Georgia Duncan of rural Burnside.

He grew up in Cheyenne, Wyo., and attended the University of Wyoming and Palmer School of Chiropractic in Chicago. He met his wife, Georgia, while working a summer job in Estes Park, Colo. They married a year later and made their home on the family farm near Adrian and Colusa. Mort farmed most of his life and served as a director of two bank boards for over 50 years, the State Bank of Colusa and State Bank of LaHarpe, later known as First State Bank of Western Illinois. Mort also served on the Deer Run Golf Course Board in Hamilton.

He was a member of the Colusa Methodist Church.

Mort loved sports and played football on the state championship team in Wyoming. He loved watching football on TV and with his special friend, Evelyn Briley; playing golf; and watching March Madness basketball with his dog, Lilly.

Mort is survived by his long-time special friend, Evelyn Briley of Carthage; a sister, Wanda (Allan) Glover of Pueblo, Colo.; sister-in-law, Angie (the late, Wayne) Morrison of Cheyenne, Wyo.; his five children, George (Sharon) Morrison of Bowen, Janet (Jim) McKoon of LaHarpe, Martha Morrison of Burnside, Jay (Lisa) Morrison of Niota and Jim (Sandi) Morrison of Burnside; eight grandchildren, Landon Morrison of Golden, Sheree Morrison of Osage Beach, Mo., Rebecca (Andrew Speer) McKoon of Glen Carbon, Mary Ann (Jason) McKoon Siegworth of LaHarpe, Rachel and Ryan Morrison, both of Niota, and John and Miranda Morrison, both of Burnside; three nieces and three nephews; and a great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Georgia in 1985; brother, Wayne Morrison; and an infant daughter, Mary Ann.

SERVICES: 10 a.m. Saturday in the Banks and Beals Funeral Home, Dallas City, with David Poland conducting. Burial will be in the Moss Ridge Cemetery, Carthage.

VISITATION: 3-8 p.m. Friday, with family present 5:30-8 p.m., in the funeral home.

MEMORIALS: Memorial Hospital Memorial Medical Clinics, LaHarpe-Davier Health Care Center, Colusa United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor's choice.

ARRANGEMENTS: Banks and Beals Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: banksandbeals.com.