Morris, Foster Frederick

Passed: 1975-05-18

Age: 71

Source: Ravenswood News

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1975-05-21

Information:     Jackson County Commission President Foster Morris, 71, of Staats Mill, died Sunday in Jackson General Hospital after a short illness.     Elected to the Commission in 1972, Morris directed the activities of the Court as president during the past two years.     During his term on the Court, many major projects were proposed and several other projects were completed.  Elected as a Republican to a six-year term, Morris was instrumental in advancing plans for the completion of the Jackson County Library in Ripley and the Ravenswood branch, the establishment of the county landfill, and the development of the Jackson County Senior Citizens Clubs.  Under his direction, the Court advanced plans for the construction of the Jackson County Airport scheduled for completion in 13 months.  The airport project was listed by Morris in a NEWS interview in January as one of the top priority projects for 1975.     At the time of his death, the Court was involved in advancing plans for the continued development of the County Farm.  Morris was particularly interested in the construction of the Route 33 bypass over Conrad Hill to the County Farm. (missing section ending with-unsuccessfully for the office of assessor.)     Prior to his election to the Court, he retired from the C. J. Hughes Construction Co., where he was employed as a field supervisor working out of the St. Albans office.  Before his 11 years of employment with the C. J. Hughes Co., Morris worked for about three years with the Federal Land Bank of Baltimore, Md., out of the Ripley office, as a field agent over a seven-county area.  He was a retired merchant and a former road supervisor.     At the time of his death, he was a member of the recently organized Jacskon County Development Authority.     Funeral services were held yesterday at 2 p.m. at the Sinaville United Methodist Church where Morris had been a member and Sunday School teacher.  The Rev. William Eaton and the Rev. Wayne Hinzman officiated.  Burial was in the Sinaville Cemetery.  Vail Funeral Home, Ripley, was in charge of the arrangements.     Surviving:  wife, Delpha G. Rhodes Morris; sons, Bernard of Staats Mill, Fred of Ripley, Tom of Rupert; daughters, Mrs. Lougean Chancey of Racine, Ohio, Mrs. Lorene Skeen of Staats Mill, Mrs. Pat Manery of Leonard, Mich.; sisters, Mrs. Eda Bailey and Mrs. Lela Thomas, both of Seth, Mrs. Velma Randolph of Ripley, Mrs. Urada Munday of Parkersburg; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.     Throughout the afternoon yesterday, the state flag was flown at half mast at the courthouse in Ripley which was draped with a black draping.  The courthouse was closed through the afternoon.  NOTE:  Foster was born October 9, 1903, a son of the late Benjamin Frederick and Cora E. Crooks.  He was elected sheriff of Jackson County in 1940 and again in 1948.