Steven F. Morris

Steven Fredrick Morris, 71, of Warsaw, formerly of Dresden, passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his loving family, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born October 1, 1948, in Sedalia, he was the oldest of three children of G.L. “Red” and Patricia Ann (Whitfield) Morris.

Steve was a 1966 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, where he played baseball. He then attended Central Missouri State University.

He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War primarily as a driver for a Sergeant Major for which he received an Accommodation Medal. He was later deployed to Vietnam to finish his tour of duty. Steve loved his country and always valued and appreciated the freedoms it grants us.

Upon returning from Vietnam in January of 1971, on April 24, 1971 in Sedalia, he was united in marriage to Cynthia C. (Cornwall). They enjoyed 49 years together and were blessed with one son, Joshua, who was his greatest pride.

Steve loved farming and farmed evenings and weekends with his dad for many years. Eventually he and Cindy owned 80 acres of farmland. He also worked many years as a licensed plumber, at D&D Beverage for a time, and retired from the Missouri State Fair where he was head plumber.

His many friends knew him best as “Merc.” He was a quiet, humble and kindhearted man and was always the first to be there if you needed help. He had a big smile, a big laugh and was quite the prankster.

He had a special bond with animals and will be greatly missed by Louie and Cheech.

Steve was an outstanding bowler, having bowled a perfect game once as well as twenty strikes in a row. He was also a good baseball, softball and golf player. He loved to fish and was always a big fan of the Chiefs, Royals and Mizzou. He and Josh enjoyed many Mizzou football games together.

He adored his granddaughter, Brooke, and spent many long trips to pick her up in Glasgow. We also know he is now enjoying some special time in heaven with granddaughter, Avia, and many other friends and family who have gone before him.

Steve was a good, loving, Christian man and was comforted in knowing where he was going. He was a member of the Sedalia Christian Center.

Surviving are his wife, Cindy, of the home; a son, Josh Morris and his wife, Emma, of Warsaw; a granddaughter, Brooklyn Morris, of Glasgow; a sister, Shelley Vansell and her husband, Mike, of Dresden; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Avia Meek; a sister, Stacey Weaver; paternal grandparents, Eugene Morris and Hattie Pettit; and maternal grandparents, Fred and Myrtle Whitfield.

A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, June 8, 2020 at Heckart Funeral Home, with Rev. Jack Menges officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time.

Military honors will be presented by the U.S. Army and VFW Post 2591.

Honorary pallbearers will be Allen Cornwall, Mike Vansell, Chip Thompson, Mark Wheeler, Craig Jackson, Larry McCown, Mark Wolfe and Jason Moore.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Canon Cancer Center at Bothwell Regional Health Center, or to Benton County Hospice, in care of Heckart Funeral Home.