Judy Carol Cook Morris

AMARILLO - Judy Carol Cook Morris passed away in Amarillo, Texas, on Thursday, November 26, 2009, after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at First Christian Church in Longview, Texas, followed by interment in Tatum Cemetery in Tatum, Texas.

Judy was born September 2, 1943, in Pasadena, Texas, to Allyene Fears and Wilburn H. Cook. She lived her early life in Pasadena and moved to Longview with her family in 1956. She was a 1961 graduate of Judson High School, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the basketball team.

After high school, Judy graduated from beauty school and worked in her mother's shop, Allyene's Beauty Shop, for several years. Later, she graduated from Kilgore College. She then obtained a B.A. in Music Education and a Masters of Arts in Music from the University of Texas at Tyler and was awarded "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" in 1982. Judy worked as a music teacher in the Longview schools for a number of years and received numerous awards for her performance and dedication. During this time, she was the pianist and organist at a number of churches in the Longview area.

In 1998, Judy moved to Amarillo, Texas, where she worked as a music teacher and choir director for the Amarillo Independent School District until her passing. She continued her service to the church and was the organist for First Christian Church of Dumas, Texas. She was also a member of the Texas Choral Directors Association and Texas Music Educators Association. 

Judy was preceded in death by both of her parents and her stepfather, Atchley "Pete" Davidson.

She is survived by her husband, Geoffrey Morris, of Amarillo; her daughter, Julie Williamson; grandchildren, Jordan and Justin Williamson of Amarillo; brother, Fred W. Cook of Longview; and niece, Marisa Hurst of Spring, Texas. Other survivors include stepnephews, Ronald, Donald and Phillip Homer; and cousins, Elaine Frost of Maryland, Virginia Fields of McKinney, Texas, and Joe Fears of The Colony, Texas.

In lieu of floral arrangements, donations may be made in memory of Judy C. Morris to the Texas Music Educators Association Scholarship Fund at www.tmea.org, 7900 Central Park, Austin, TX 78754, (1-888-318-8639).

A visitation will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church in Longview, Texas.