Morris Mason Cameron

1945 - 2025

Morris Mason Cameron

October 10, 1945 - November 5, 2025

Morris Mason Cameron, affectionately known as "Mitty", passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025. He was born on October 10, 1945, in Gloucester, Va., to Cleveland Reaves Cameron and Louise Thrift Cameron, and grew up alongside his brother, Cleveland Cameron Jr. Mitty graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in education and began his career as a teacher, sharing his love of learning for 13 years in Ashland, Va. In 1969, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice Goode Cameron, and together they shared 56 years of love, service, and partnership.

After teaching, Mitty returned to a trade he learned from his father; becoming a skilled butcher at Ukrop's grocery store, where he worked for many years. He and Alice settled in Ashland in 1980 and became devoted members of Forest Grove Methodist Church, where Mitty gave generously of his time and talents, cooking and catering for countless church events and community gatherings.

Mitty was a man of deep knowledge, boundless energy, and unmatched craftsmanship. A true educator at heart, he delighted in teaching others; whether it was about mechanics, meat cutting, or the right way to stir a pot of his delicious Apple Butter. He was known for his hard work, knowledge, and the way he pushed those around him to be their best.

A gifted tradesman, Mitty's passions were as wide as his skills. He was a lifelong outdoorsman; hunting, fishing, canoeing, gardening, and four-wheeling and a devoted antique car enthusiast. After buying his first Model T in 1985, he became an expert in Model T Fords and a proud member of the Antique Car Club. In 2009, he and Alice embarked on an unforgettable coast-to-coast journey in their 1920 Model T, retracing the historic route that Ford himself had taken a century earlier.

Mitty was also known far and wide for his cooking. From church suppers and weddings to Ruritan Club events and car shows, his barbecue, apple butter, and Brunswick stew became local legends; enjoyed by everyone from friends and neighbors to racing legend Richard Petty himself.

Though sometimes cantankerous, Mitty's heart was caring and dedicated. He was a doer and a giver, a man who showed love through hard work and helping hands. He valued tradition, craftsmanship, and community; and he kept alive the old ways and knowledge that might otherwise have been forgotten. He was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by his family, friends, and all those lucky enough to have learned from, worked with, and been fed by him.

A memorial service will be held at Forest Grove Methodist Church, 13384 Ashland Road, Ashland, Virginia 23005, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 3 p.m. Visitation will start at 2 p.m. Online condolences and fond memories of Mitty may be offered to the family on the Nelsen Funeral Home website.

Nelsen Funeral Home-Reid Chapel