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Morris Summerfield Obituary
Morris Phillip Summerfield passed away peacefully on January 3, 2007, at the age of 89, at Nenita’s New Beginnings Care Home in Eureka where he and Dorris have resided since April 2005, under the excellent care from Nenita and Brent Wick and their 4 Chihuahua dogs, Salsa, Taco, Nacho and Gwapo.
He was born in Alamada on December 18, 1917, and lived there until 1953 then moved to Eureka. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Army for 3 years. After the service, he became a traveling salesman for Skaggs-Stone (Foremost-McKesson) for over 60 years. His customers were 5 and dime Variety Stores from Ukiah all the way up the coast into Oregon.
In 1935 he met the love of his life, Dorris Blanchard and they were married in 1940. They celebrated 66 years of marriage this year. Dorris enjoyed traveling with Morris on his sales route until they started a family in 1950. In 1953, they moved to Eureka and lived in the same house on “H” Street for 51 years, until health issues required them to move to Nenita’s in 2005.
Since he was a small boy, he enjoyed collecting stamps. He belonged to the Humboldt Stamp Collectors Club for many years. He also collected lighthouses, trains and coins. Many family summers vacations were spent at the beach in Nelscott, Oregon which he loved.
His favorite pastime was eating out at restaurants, especially Stanton’s. It was not uncommon for the waitresses at his favorite restaurants to greet him by name and ask him if he was going to have “his usual”.
Morris loved to play practical jokes and liked to tease people. He liked watching professional and college football on TV and attended many Eureka High School and College of the Redwood football games when he was in town. For many years he had 49er season tickets and enjoyed going to San Francisco for game whenever he could.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louie and Vesta Summerfield and a sister, Carol Brink.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Dorris; daughters, Karen Butler of Medford, Oregon, Sandra Brown of Redding and Jeannie Williams of Livermore; 3 sons-in-law, Scotty Butler, Danny Brown and Rick Williams; 5 grandchildren, Sara, Amy, Jason, Jeff and Ashley; and 2 great-grandchildren, Nathan and Tyson. His sisters, Gertrude Allgeier of Sacramento, Louise Gibbard of Kalamas, Washington, and Ester Floyd of Coos Bay, Oregon; many nieces and nephews; and by his friends, Marion and Mike Adams and family friend, Barbara Brown.
Our special thanks to Nenita’s New Beginnings Care Home, Hospice of Humboldt, the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital and SeaView Healthcare.
Visitation will be at Sanders Funeral Home, 1835 E Street in Eureka on Thursday January 4, 2007, from Noon to 5 p.m. The Graveside Service will be at Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka on Friday January 5, 2007, at 10 a.m.
Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com, click on obituaries.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Morris Summerfield
Sandra (Summerfield) Brown
February 2, 2007
I too want to say thank you to everyone who signed dad's guest book it really means a lot to hear from you. I recognize several names of friends I haven't seen in years and that is really nice. It is very hard to have your father pass away but I am fortunate to have support from a wonderful family and many friends who knew him. I think we all spend a lot of time now remembering all the funny things he used to do that made us laugh and the things we used to do as a family. Life will never be the same without him and I miss him very much.
Jeannie (Summerfield) Williams
January 31, 2007
I wanted to personally say "Thank You" to everyone that wrote in Dad's guestbook, sent flowers & cards, called on the phone with condolences, attended Dad's viewing or service, or just thought about all of our family during our time of grief. It has been 28 days since Dad made his trip to heaven, and for me, it has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I keep telling myself that he is doing great up there and he is looking in on all of us and making his nose wrinkle up like he always used to do. I miss him terribly, but I try to focus on all of the fun times we had as a family, and believe me, there were tons. I know that each day is a new day and only time can ease the grief I feel. We all really appreciate the support that everyone has shown us--it really brings to light how many friends you have that love you. You will all be in our hearts, forever.
Barbara Brown
January 16, 2007
I owe a lot to Morris he has given us a wonderful daughter in-law, and through the last year and a half it has been my pleasure to get to know him better, we had a lot of spats and a lot of good times, he loved going out to eat and although he moved slowly, just get him out and he could really move to get into the restaurant, I will miss him and our time spent teasing one another.
Sally Wright Trzil
January 13, 2007
Dear Dorris: My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. My Mom was Mildred Haglund Wright, your close friend during nurses' training at Emanuel Hospital in Portland. She often spoke so lovingly of you, Morris and your girls. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Robert Maxon
January 8, 2007
Dear Friends,
I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. I had the pleasure of working with Morris when he called on our stores. I'll always remember him as a fine salesman and a real gentleman. He brightened my workdays with his smile and great sense of humor...
Diana Bridges
January 7, 2007
DEAR DORRIS AND FAMILY
MOM AND I WERE SO SAD TO HEAR ABOUT MORRIS PASSING. I REMEMBER WHEN MORRIS USE TO COME INTO NORTH TOWN 5& 10 CENT STORE IN NORTH ARCATA,I AS A CHILD I WAS ALWAYS EXCITED ABOUT SEEING HIM BECAUSE HE BROUGHT NEW THINGS TO SELL MOM.
I COULD TELL HOW MUCH HE LOVED HIS JOB, HE'LL BE GREATLEY MISSED.
LOVE LENA DAL PORTO & DIANA BRIDGES
Michael Adams
January 6, 2007
I will miss our lunches together and the teasing with did to each other when it came time to pay the bill. I will always remember your everlasting friendship with my wife and I and the support you gave my wife in my absense. Rest in peace my friend.
Mike Adams
Diann Matthews
January 6, 2007
Dear Auntie Dorris and Family;
My brother and I will always have fond memories of Uncle Morris chasing us down the hall with his razor when he was staying with his sister in Coos Bay.
He will truly be missed.
Ruth Henkle
January 6, 2007
Dear Dorris and Family,
I read with sadness of your loss. I am so sorry. I always thought he was a most gentle man.
(Ruth Henkle) (Barbara Niles Kramer's mother)
Susan Fox (Sattes)
January 6, 2007
Dear Dorris,
I will always remember the wonderful times I had playing at your house with Karen, Sandra and Jeannie. Barbie dolls, Monopoly and eating peas from the pods out in the back yard. My thoughts and condolences are with you all and I wish you all the best.
Ken & Arlene Britt
January 5, 2007
Dear Dorris, Jeannie and Karen,
Know our thoughts and prayers are with you all. His smile and kind manner will always be remembered.
Sue Hurd
January 4, 2007
Dear Karen and Sandra,
We are so sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Blessings,
Sue and Don Hurd
Laura Knight
January 4, 2007
Dear Dorris, Jeannie & family, I am so sorry for your loss. I have very fond memories of Morris and your entire family all the way back to grade school. I will cherish those memories forever. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Ernie & Yvonne Nearman
January 4, 2007
Our prayers are with the Morris family.
We too enjoyed his sence of humor which
will be missed. Signed a fellow Skaggs
Stone salesman.
Patrick Hannon
January 4, 2007
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
Mike L Newman
January 4, 2007
Dear Dorris & family:
I'll always hold in my heart, the memories I have when Morrie came calling on the Longs Drug Store I worked at. He always had a smile, a chuckle, & a playful gleam in his eyes when he was around. But that's not to say he couldn't deadpan a joke and then burst out with a laugh. He made my job easier. I will miss his presence on this planet.
Shirley Barker Gillespie
January 4, 2007
On behalf of the alumni of Skaggs-Stone, please accept our condolences on the passing of Morrie. He will be sorely missed by his friends from S-S and Foremost-McKesson.
Ted DeLay
January 4, 2007
My Deepest Sympathy to the summerfield Family, I knew Mrs Summerfield when she worked at Marshall School.
He well Be Sorely Missed
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