Robert Jackson Morris

Our precious Bob passed away into the arms of his loving Savior on January 2, 2026 from injuries sustained in an accident at his farm doing one of the things he loved the most—hunting in the woods, up in a tree, in the early morning dawn of a glorious day, surrounded by dappling light and birdsong. Bob had a deep reverence for creation and life and a keen eye for the movements, stirrings, sounds and scents of his surroundings. He especially loved the drop in temperature right before sunrise with its announcement of a new day dawning.

Bob was born in Wilmington, Delaware on May 10, 1951, the firstborn child and only son of Otto Marucci Morris and Gloria Barton Morris. Within months, the family moved to Aiken, SC, where Bob grew up alongside his beloved younger sister, Keith. He lived an idyllic boy’s life filled with early morning paper routes, swim team, baseball, church basketball league, daredevil bike rides and stunts, fishing with his father, and golfing with his mother. He was a mischievous, curious, and energetic little boy full of the freedom of youth.

School was an easy trick for Bob as his brilliant mind rarely met a match. He lived, thought and loved out of the box. As such, his solutions and approaches to problems were fascinating. Simply put, Bob could out run it, out think it and out do it. He graduated from Aiken High in 1969 with a mind heavily weighted toward the sciences, like his father, Otto. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1973 with degrees in chemistry and biology and soon after entered the Medical University of South Carolina’s Dental School.

In 1977, Bob opened the door of his dental practice in Mt. Pleasant, SC to a community that surrounded and welcomed him. He was a tireless, dedicated, compassionate, and meticulous man—honest to a fault—who enjoyed the excellence of his craft. An artist at heart—and in all things—Bob had a special talent for helping and improving a patient’s outlook and built many life long friendships over generations of families.

As he was building his dental practice, his two daughters, Haley and Gray were born. Their births skyrocketed Bob into an exciting new orbit as they became his best loves and the light of his life. Introducing them to all that he loved and knew, Bob was their rock, their steady and loving guide who shaped them with love, adventure, and discipline. Haley and Gray could count on him to be strong, intentional, and funny - never missing an opportunity for a good practical joke.

After retiring in 2017, Bob dug in deep and learned everything about farming to his complete delight. He absolutely inhaled the farm and it flourished under his direction and care with hundreds of oaks, fruit trees, and longleaf pines planted just in the last few years. All just to add to what nature already provided. All just to create, to watch something grow, to soak up the earth and the sun. All just to be fully alive.

With the heart of a lion and the humility of a lamb, Bob was content and intentional. He never stayed angry or held a grudge. He never elevated himself above another human being and sought always to learn something from anyone with whom he came into contact. Bob lived in the moment with such appeal.

He loved hunting, fishing, boating, searching for sharks’ teeth and arrowheads, flounder gigging and dancing. He played the piano, the ukulele, the guitar, the harmonica, and loved to sing. Rhythm ran through him. He was an exceptional gardener whose orchids and roses filled our house and became treasured gifts. Bob turned his backyard into a wild and colorful bird sanctuary. He was also an extraordinary cook, tweaking his recipes constantly for that pinch of improvement.

Bob always knew which way the wind was blowing and the tide was flowing. And, oh, how he loved a good storm. Bob accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in his later years, and he and his wife, Patricia, grew in their faith together which was a most beautiful thing. If you asked Bob what he treasured most on earth, his wife and family would top the list.

Bob is survived by his cherished wife of 23 years, Patricia Kininmonth Morris; his daughters, Haley Morris Cuzzell (Charles) and Gray Linder Morris (Robert Jones); his sister, Keith Morris Crosswhite and her husband, Reverend Kenneth Wayne Crosswhite; his nephew, Kenneth Yates Crosswhite and his daughter, Hannah; his step-daughters, Kendall Williams Hoak (Robby) and Anndel Williams Powers (Jeremy); and seven grandchildren, Ellen Gray Nicholson Hoak, Otto Everett Jones, Charles Louis Cuzzell V, Robert McDowell Hoak Jr., Jackson Gray Cuzzell, John (Jack) Rittenhouse Powers, and Margaret Copeland Powers; and his first wife, Debra Joy London, the mother of Haley and Gray.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Otto Marucci Morris, Jr. and Gloria Barton Morris. And let’s not forget his best friends, Talbert and Roxy, his and Patricia’s beloved flat-coated retrievers.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 15th at 3:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Church at 440 Whilden Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 in the Ministry Center Sanctuary, with a reception to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s Church, 440 Whilden Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, and Perception Ministries, 7001 Saint Andrews Road #431, Columbia, SC 29212. Arrangements have been entrusted to Charleston Cremation Center of Charleston.