Jack A. Morris

Jack A. MORRIS Passed away November 22nd at the Talbot Center in Renton following a long illness with Alzheimer's. Jack was born July 15, 1918 in Wilkeson to Welsh coal mining parents. He spent his early years in Durham before moving to Enumclaw in 1933 where he graduated from high school in 1935. He attended Washington State College and joined Sigma Chi fraternity. He first worked for his father and uncles at the Morris Bros. Coal Mining Company and in 1938 began a long career with another family business, Palmer Coking Coal Company. He joined the Army in April 1941 and was stationed in Sitka, Alaska. He later transferred to the Army Air Corps and enrolled in Officer's Candidate School. As a Lieutenant he flew B-17s out of England during World War II and was discharged in November 1945. Jack married Alice Hanson of Enumclaw on August 1, 1943 and together they had three sons. After the war Jack returned to the family businesses and eventually took over Pacific Coast Coal & Oil Co. and later became President and General Manager of Palmer Coking Coal Co. before retiring in 1976. He also started his own coal import business, Morris & Sons operating out of Kent. Jack loved to hunt, particularly bird hunting with his Brittany-Spaniels on business trips to Eastern Washington. He was a licensed pilot who enjoyed flying his Bonanza single engine airplane. He also enjoyed yard work at his Lake Sawyer home and their second home at Mats Mats Bay. Jack was a long-time member of the Washington Athletic Club. He is survived by Alice, his wife of sixty-four years; sons, David (Melanie), Tim (Patricia), Bob (Jill), eight grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the "W.S.U. - Jack & Alice Morris Scholarship Fund for Native Americans" in care of Ann Huffaker, Scholarship Coordinator, Washington State University, P.O. Box 642714, Pullman, WA 99164-2713.