William "Bill" Byrd Morrison, Jr.

1948 - 2025

William Byrd Morrison, Jr. was born on October 19, 1948, and died on January 10, 2025, at the age of 76. He graced family and friends with “a long goodbye,” over a span of nearly twelve years, as he endured the challenges and effects of frontotemporal lobe dementia. Bill was affectionately known as “Daddy” by family and close friends, as he was always in charge and in control of all things and handled everything from making the plans to the dinner tabs, and everything in between. The staff in his Memory Care Unit at Fox Ridge in Bryant even referred to him as such, and he loved it because he remained in charge and most likely thought he owned the facility and was surrounded by his kind employees. He fought this cruel disease with such strength, dignity and grace up until his final hours, when he passed away peacefully next to his daughter.

Bill was born in Camden, Arkansas to Byrd and Donice Morrison. He was a proud member of Camden High School Class of 1966, where he held onto lifelong friends and memories of that special time. Bill went on to attend college at Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama for two years, where he received the Marlin D. Moore Award and was honored with a sabre in 1967, for being the friendliest cadet. From there, he attended and graduated from Northeast Louisiana University, now known as University of Louisiana – Monroe with a pharmacy degree in 1971.

During his time in pharmacy school, Bill received his pilot’s license. Flying was his hobby and his passion, and he took his friends and family to many football games, vacations, and sometimes in the early years, just to a destination dinner. He was a very skilled and conscientious pilot and made the decision to give up his wings in 2013. As recently as these last few months, talking to him about flying and airplanes still got a smile and a nod from Bill. He loved it.

Bill began his career as a pharmacist back home in Camden. He started out working for his longtime mentor and friend, Bob Landers. Bill then owned and operated the businesses at Gibson’s Pharmacy, followed by Walmart Pharmacy, until October 30, 1994, when he opened the doors to his own building at Morrison’s Pharmacy, followed by a second location in January 1995, Morrison’s Clinic Pharmacy. Bill’s customers and pharmacy employees have always come first.

As an avid Razorback fan, he talked sports year-round, reliving previous games and victories, and discussing the upcoming season and games that we were sure to win. Some of his best memories were made with his dad, his family, or his best friends at a Razorback game. Bill was a proud member of the Razorback Foundation. Additionally, he served on the board of Generations Bank of Camden. He was a member of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), as his other hobby and passion was owning and breeding Thoroughbred racehorses. He talked about each of his horses, as if they were family, and for a while they were. Bill also served as a member of the Camden Municipal Airport Commission. He was an avid golfer until rheumatoid arthritis took this favorite pastime away. He spent almost every free weekend at the Camden Country Club golfing with buddies. Bill was raised in First United Methodist Church of Camden, and later moved his membership and family to First Baptist Church of Camden.

Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Denise Morrison, his daughter, Elaine Morrison Evans, and his granddaughter, Kendall Marie Evans. He was a proud “cat daddy” to Lucky, Sunshine, Boo and Butterball, and his grand-dog, Snow. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Joe Paul Beasley (Debbie), sister-in-law, Tommye Ruth Moulder (Jeff), sister-in-law, Mary Susan Thomas (Mark), many nieces and nephews, his beloved first cousin, Patsy Boyle, and the matriarch of the Byrd family, cousin Mattie Upton, both of Camden. He is preceded in death by his mother, Donice Hare

Morrison, his father, William Byrd Morrison Sr., mother-in-law, Hazel Beasley, and father-in-law Thomas Beasley.

Denise, Elaine and Kendall are grateful to our extended family, friends who are like family, the pharmacists and employees of Morrison’s Pharmacies, and the nurses and aides at Fox Ridge Memory Care Unit in Bryant for all the love and support they have shown to him and to us over the years. We are so thankful for the outpouring of kindness and care he received, and we were shown by the staff at Ouachita Nursing and Rehab Center (ONRC) and by the Arbor Hospice Care Team and Dr. Larry Braden in his transition to their facility and care in his final weeks, especially to Stephanie (Peaches) Fletcher for making it happen so seamlessly. There is simply no place like home, and he knew it.

A visitation will be held Friday, January 17, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Proctor’s Chapel located at 442 Jefferson Street, in Camden, Arkansas. His celebration of life is January 18, 2025, at 2:00 pm to be held at First United Methodist Church located at 121 Harrison Avenue, in Camden, with burial immediately following at Memorial Park Cemetery. Dr. David Uth is presiding over the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests your memorials in appreciation of and love for Bill Morrison be made to First Baptist Church at 348 W. Washington Street, Camden, AR 71701, First United Methodist Church at 121 Harrison Avenue, Camden, AR 71701, the Alzheimer’s Association online at www.act.alz.org or any charity of your choosing.