Harold Mercer "Hal" Morris

1929 - 2016

"Hal" Morris

Harold "Hal" Mercer Morris, Jr., age 87, of Chattanooga, passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at his beloved mountain home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the son of the late Harold M. Morris, Sr. and Fairy Elliott Morris of Athens, Georgia.

He grew up in Athens, Georgia, graduating from Athens High School in 1946. At Athens High School he was on the football team, Captain of the basketball team and was elected "Mr. Athens High School".

Hal spent two years in the U. S. Navy, Stationed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as a swimming and survival instructor and lifeguard. He was also a member of the N. A. S. - Jacksonville basketball team.

Back in Athens, Georgia, after his discharge, he entered the University of Georgia, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Journalism-Advertising. At UGA he was a member of Sigma Delti Chi honorary journalism fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order social fraternity, Intra-Fraternity Council, "G" Club, and he was co-captain of the 1951 Bulldog Swimming team (SEC Champions).

Hal retired from the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga in 1994 after 38 years of service as Advertising Manager and Communications Administrator.

In Chattanooga he served as President of the Chattanooga Advertising Federation, The Quarterback Club, the University of Georgia Bulldog Club, the Younger Set Dance Club and Kappa Alpha Alumni Chapter; Vice President of the Chattanooga Jaycees; and Secretary of the Electric League (life-member).

Hal served on the boards of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association, Big Brother-Big Sisters Organization, Chattanooga Area Literacy Movement (now READ), and the Pan-O-Ram Club on Lookout Mountain. He was a member of the Chattanooga Navy League, The Walden Club, Friends of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, and Chattanooga Area Historical Association. He was also a longtime member of the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church as well as Bill Carter's Brock Sunday School Class.

Hal taught us all the value of family, hard work and living a life full of joy. This tall, athletic man was an avid swimmer and runner for 75 years of his life. His robust smile and infectious laughter embraced everyone he met effortlessly with a presence that enveloped a room as he walked through a door, simply because he was authentically genuine. Whether in work, community or home he touched every single person who had the opportunity to know him with his loving spirit.

Hal is survived by his wife of 34 years, Linda Daughtrey Dunavin Morris; brother, Robert Elliott Morris, Cmdr. USN (Retired) Coronado, California; step-sons, David C. Dunavin (Cornelia) of Lake Junaluska, North Carolina and Michael H. Dunavin (Karen) of Burlington, Vermont; five granddaughters, Lauren Dunavin Callins (Jamison) of Memphis, Tennessee, Augusta Dunavin Weaver (Nicholas) of Oxford, Mississippi, Sydney Dunavin of Washington DC, Keely Dunavin, of Knoxville, Tennessee and Emelyn Dunavin, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee; grandchildren's mother, Emelyn Bautista-Dunavin; of Signal Mountain; four step-grandson's, Tucker and Chase Weaver of Burlington, Vermont, Jacob McClintock of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Joshua McClintock of Chattanooga, Tennessee; four great grandchildren, Magnolia Mae Callins and Tallulah Galloway Callins of Memphis, Tennessee, Ezra Haynes Weaver and Bessie Pearl Weaver of Oxford, Mississippi and several cousins.

The family is grateful for the loving care extended to Hal and his family by the staffs of NHC of Rossville, Georgia and Hearth Hospice.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 pm on Wednesday, December 21, at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, 316 N. Bragg Ave., Lookout Mtn., TN 37350. Services for Hal will follow at 2 pm on Wednesday at the church with Reverend Joe Novenson officiating. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens with John Bennett, B. Allen Casey, Josh McClintock, Nick Nicholson, Chase and Tucker Weaver serving as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, 1690 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30605, YMCA of Athens, 915 Hawthorne Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30606, or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.

1929 - 2016