William MORIG

July 26, 1940 - February 23, 2025

Starbucks will see one less loyal customer ordering his favorite beverage at their daily drive thru with the passing of William (Bill) Raymond Morig. He was born in Spokane WA on July 26, 1940. Bill was raised as a child and young adult with his two brothers on a small farm in western Spokane County, where his father homesteaded 180 acres which included, wheat fields and herding cows that produced milk for a local dairy. He went to grade school at a small country single room schoolhouse, Great Northern, where each row designated the specific class from grades 1-6 all under one roof. He attended Irving grade school in Spokane for grades 7 and 8 and then graduated from Lewis & Clark in Spokane for his final years in high school. Bill enrolled at Eastern Washington State College in Cheney, WA (EWU) where he obtained a BA and MS in Chemistry and Biology respectively. He eventually established a scholarship in his name in pursuit of continuing the scholastic processes for higher education. After college, he joined the Washington Air National Guard for a six-year military service obligation. During this period, he received training in Air Traffic Control and used that training for completing his final military obligation in an ATC tower at Spokane International airport. There were many a pilot that credited their success in emergency situations when guided by Bill as his seasoned experience from their "invisible" tower co-pilot.

Bill joined Hollister-Stier Laboratories in 1964 and spent 11 years at this facility as a biochemist completing allergy research. In 1975, he joined the Washington State Patrol and completed training as a Forensic Scientist in the crime laboratory, following a successful internship at Quanitco headquarters in Virginia. He was recognized by his colleagues for his attention to detail in solving even the most difficult cases, including the Kevin Coe investigation. He retired from his stellar criminal justice career in 2002. His expertise was still requested throughout the state for numerous high-profile trial cases even after his retirement. He was always respected within the WA legal community as not only having a significant reservoir of forensic knowledge, but was praised for being fair, methodical, and impartial when testifying in court for both sides of the aisle.

Before his long downhill journey in dealing with multiple health issues, Bill was a seasoned runner, an avid Mariners fan during baseball season, a daily Starbuck's aficionado, and a true EWU Eagle during the fall football contests; however, his most prized accomplishment was being a devoted father to his two grown children, Bridget Morig and Barry Morig. They continued to be his loving inspiration until the very end. The family remains eternally grateful to Bill's neurological medical team of Dr. David Newell in Bellevue, WA, Dr. Daniel T. Yang and Dr. David Ramey here in Spokane, as well as his primary team of physician and devoted seasoned staff of Thomas P. Martin, MD, Tina, RN, Judy RN, Emily RN, Laura RN, Cara, Laurin, Aides Jody and Devan along with Social Workers Oscar and Wednesday and Chaplain Tracy collectively from Providence Hospice Spokane in his final days.

Survived by his wife and dedicated healthcare advocate, Liz; his two children, Bridget Morig and Barry Morig both of Spokane; his former wife, Kathy Hazel; his brother, Bob Morig of Coronado, CA; along with an extended loving family including special neighbors, together they all embrace and will carry with them his unending infectious smile that always made everyone feel welcomed.

At his request, no formal service will be held. But if you choose to remember him in your own way, he would cherish a donation to his established EWU scholarship fund to keep the spirit of education going for his other "kids on campus".