A. Carlyle Morris

Ashley Carlyle Morris, 84, of 1809 McDonald Lane, Raleigh, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008. The son of Ethel C. and Samuel J. Morris, he was born in Rocky Mount on February 19, 1924, but moved to Raleigh several months later and was always proud to be an "Old Raleigh Boy." He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and two brothers. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Florence R. Morris; a daughter, Anne E. Morris; two sons, Ashley C. Morris Jr. and Christopher R. Morris (Julie); two grandsons, W. Christopher Morris and Michael J. Morris, all of Raleigh.
A graduate of Broughton High School, Carlyle attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. At Carolina, he earned a B.A. in political science and became a lifelong Tar Heel fan. He went on to law school at Wake Forest College, intending to follow his father into practice, but he changed his mind about becoming an attorney and left to pursue another career.
During WWII, Carlyle enlisted in the U.S. Navy and joined the submarine service. After completing the Navy's submarine school at New London, CT, he was assigned to the Sea Fox on patrol in the Pacific. While in the Navy, Carlyle had the opportunity to see much of Australia. He fell in love with the country and the people, remembering his experiences in Australia fondly throughout his life.
In the summer of 1950, while working at Eastover, a Berkshire Mountains resort in Lenox, MA, Carlyle met Florence Ridenour, of Rahway, NJ., who was also an Eastover summer employee. They became engaged later that year and were married the following summer. Carlyle always enjoyed telling people that he had met Florence on June 10th and married her on June 9th.
After more than two decades as a representative with New England Mutual Life Insurance Co., Carlyle changed careers. Having developed an interest in real estate while managing his own rental property, he obtained his real estate license and became an independent real estate broker, spending the rest of his working life in commercial real estate. He had been a member of the Raleigh Board of Realtors.
On his early morning walks, Carlyle took pleasure in showing a simple kindness to his neighbors, picking up their newspapers from their yards and placing them on their front porches. He was also a great friend to the area dogs, for many years buying dog treats, which he would pass out to his canine buddies on his neighborhood walks. In addition to his family, Carlyle found joy in picking blackberries and whistling.
Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Raleigh Rescue Mission, 314 East Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's Street.