Charles Ray Morris

Charles Ray Morris was born May 27, 1956, in Charlton Heights of Fayette County in West Virginia and passed away following an aggressive battle with cancer surrounded by family at his home in Copperas Cove, Texas on May 23, 2025. He was the second oldest child raised by Florence Nadine (Connard) and Donald Moles who proceeded him in death. Additional family proceeding him in death are his Father-in-Law, Malcolm Edward Thompson Jr., brother in laws: Ronald Ingram, Malcolm Edward Thompson III and Johnnie Edward Thompson, niece. Danielle Marie Spencer.

Ray, a military child, was raised with an older brother Robert Westley Morris and younger siblings James Norman Morris, Donna Jean (Moles) Ingram and Keisey Marie (Moles) Floyd.

Ray, along with his siblings, made their way around the globe during his father’s military service, settling in Copperas Cove where he would graduate from Copperas Cove High School in 1974. He joined the Army out of high school and married the love of his life Margaret Jo Thompson on Feb. 12, 1977. While serving in the 2/17th Cav. 101st Airborne Division, he worked as an Observation/Scout Helicopter repairer and as a Cavalry Scout during his six years of service, traveling the world with duty stations in Germany and Kentucky. While serving he earned two good conduct medals, Aircraft Crewman Badge and the National Defense Service Medal.

He returned to central Texas in 1981, where they would raise three children: Johnny Ray Morris of Palestine, David Wayne Morris and Tiffany of Copperas Cove and Rebecca Ann (Morris) and John Mercer of Pflugerville. He was blessed with 12 grandchildren: Rachel, Alyssa, Kendall, Anna, Joshua, Austin, Ashlen, Kaelyn, Peyton, Emma, Bentleigh and Hadley.

Before becoming a grandparent, he volunteered as Scoutmaster for Troop 238 in Copperas Cove, leading dozens of young men to the rank of Eagle Scout in his decade of service that included many summers at Camp Tahuaya in Belton molding young scouters. He volunteered with the Heart of Texas District Committee in Waco and was selected as an adult member of the Order of the Arrow achieving Brotherhood.

When not volunteering with the Scouting programs, he worked as a Telemetry Technician with Metroplex Hospital (AdventHealth) in Killeen from 1987 until retirement in 2018. Following his retirement from the hospital, he worked as a community liaison for foster children, matching families in Region VII covering the greater central Texas area from Bryan to Lampasas and Waco to Buda.

His passion for the outdoors started with the Boy Scouts of America program and grew to include RV camping, boating and riding his motorcycle later in life.

Ray founded the Centex Spyder Riders club in 2019 and would log thousands of miles annually touring the state of Texas with the club where he served as President.

When not on his motorcycle or boat, he stayed busy working with The Belton Journal delivering newspapers from the press in Bryan and distributing them to the many storefronts in Belton.

He is survived by; Mother-in-law Barbara Thompson, Wife Margie Morris, Brothers James and Beatrice (Staiwailt) Morris, Robert Morris.sister Donna, sisters in law Angie (Thompson) and Chuck Burns, Diane (Brooks) Thompson, Brother-in-Law Mike Thompson Sr. and Sandy (Hitt), his three children, their spouses, 12 grandchildren, seven nieces and 4 nephews.

Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel and Cremations (1614 S FM 116) are handling the services that include a visitation with the family at noon on June 2, funeral officiated by Reverend Rob Endter of Church of the Redeemer and a fellowship meal with the family at Cadence City Church (815 US-190 BUS) all in Copperas Cove. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America or the Central Texas Spyder Ryders Chapter for the Road Warriors Project at www.usspyderryders.com/tx-central-texas.