Richard Morris

ERIE — Richard A. Morris, 82, of Erie died Thursday, March 22, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City.

Born Nov. 11, 1935, in Monmouth, the son of Howard and Alice (Furr) Morris, he married Margaret A. Gray June 14, 1959, in the Christian Church in St. Augustine, Ill. She survives.

He graduated from Galesburg High School in 1954 and attended Western Illinois University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in music. He taught music for eight years after college, and then went to work for Kone Elevator, retiring in 1998 as a shipping specialist.

He sang in the Rock River Valley Barbershop Chorus and River Chor Choir. He also played in and was vice president of the River City Municipal Band in Clinton. He was an active member of Erie Baptist Church as a deacon, men’s Sunday school teacher, and was the music director at the Erie and Morrison Baptist churches. He was a member of Prophet Hills Country Club in Prophetstown.

Also surviving are three children, Laura Vandermyde of Sterling, Jeffrey (Brenda) Morris of Rockford and Sarah (Edward) Stuepfert of LaMoille; one sister, Mary Lester of Princeton; four grandchildren, James Douglas (Sara) Vandermyde of Cookeville, Tenn., Alene Vandermyde of Davenport, Iowa, Derek Morris of Rockford and Clay Stuepfert of LaMoille; and one great-granddaughter, Ana Sophia Vandermyde.

He was preceded in death by both parents; a sister, Emma Jean Breiner; and son, Anthony Kelly Morris, in infancy.

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at the First Baptist Church in Morrison.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Morrison for an LED projector.