Russell R. Morris, 61,
of Thatcher Road, Gloucester, died Monday March 11, 2013 in the
Boston Medical Center following a sudden illness surrounded by
family and friends. He was the loving husband of Patricia A. (Kavanagh)
Morris.
Born
in Gloucester September 11, 1951, he was the son of the late
Floyd and Esther (Dorman) Morris. He was educated in local
public schools and a lifelong resident of Cape Ann. There was no
place on earth he loved more. Russell would regale you with
stories about how his work career began cutting lawns with
scissors for “two bits” and worked his way up at twelve to
operating pony rides at summer carnivals on the North Shore.
From there he went to concrete fabrication in NH, which led him
to his final field of endeavor, Powdered Metal Manufacturing.
While
employed at Sintered Metals and Thermet,
of Gloucester and Jamaica Plain, he had the idea of starting his
own Powdered Metal firm, and with his terrific partner John
Naves along with his wife and son, managed to bring his dream to
fruition. Their company became known as an innovator in the
Porous Bronze field, and automation became his driving force. He
was a hard working man and though silently fighting this
insidious disease of lung cancer worked right up until the
illness brought him to his knees. He will forever be remembered
as a quiet, fiercely stubborn man who would never admit defeat.
Russell would have realized his 30th year in business
this May as president of Avenger Inc. in Ipswich.
He
had a passion for fishing and surf casting and loved nothing
better than landing a sparkling striper on a warm afternoon. He
was a fervent Patriots, Red Sox and Notre Dame Fighting Irish
fan. Scrawney-Morgan’s would always
be filled with friends and Family on Game Days. Though a quiet
participant, he was always working behind the scenes on some
political election for his wife and strongly believed in his
country. He was a member of the Red, White and Blue Crew - July
4th Family, and the Cape Ann Sportsman Club.
One
reason he went to work for himself was to bring his dream of
building a home of his own a reality. A dream he made come true
with the help of so many family and friends. He said he always
felt so fortunate to be able to open his home to so many
throughout the years. It truly was a blast. He was a loving and
cherished father, grandfather (Grampy)
and husband. For his wife, their 30 years together were the
greatest moments of her life. His quiet, steady presence and
gentle smile will be greatly missed, especially by his children,
grand-children, wife and so many beloved friends.
In
addition to his wife he is survived by his son Russell M. Morris
and his wife Jennifer, his daughter, Keri Ann Perry and her
husband Greg, and his grandchildren Jordan (Morris)
Westling, Alexis Morris, Samantha
Pascucci and
Braeden Perry, all of Gloucester. He is also survived by
his brothers, Robert Morris of Gloucester and William Morris of
Gloucester, and his sister, Eva Kollander
of Hiram, ME. He was the brother of the late Ferrell Morris and
Elliot “Sonny” Morris, both formerly of Gloucester.
Family and friends are respectfully welcomed to a Celebration of
Russell’s life to be held on April 6, 2013 starting at 1:00 at
129 Thatcher Road, Gloucester. Arrangements
by the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich.
In
Russell’s Memory, family and friends will be participating in
the 2013 Jimmy Fund Walk. Tribute gifts may
be made payable to “Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk” and
directed to “Team Scrawney-Morgan”,
Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk” at P.O. Box 3595, Boston, MA
02241. To make a tribute gift online, please visit our
team page at
http://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2013/scrawney
