Linda Lee Morris

Linda Lee Morris at the age of 54 on Aug. 12 in Moses Lake.

She was born on Feb. 25, 1959, to Gilbert and Stanna Lee White in Spokane, as the oldest of two children.

She spent her childhood on her parent’s cattle ranch north of Ritzville along Crab Creek. She attended Ritzville schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated from Ritzville High School in 1977.

She was an exceptional student, a teacher’s delight and always one to be counted upon.

She was captain of the Broncettes during her senior year, a member of Honor Society, FHA and played the flute in the RHS Pep Band. She had a photographic memory, a vast vocabulary, quick wit and rapid-fire opinions.

She attended Big Bend Community College for two years, earning her associates degree. In 1979, she transferred to Eastern Washington University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in home economics in 1981.

She met her future husband, John O. Morris, Jr. on a blind date April 18, 1980. She went to meet John’s parents and family on their farm a month later on May 18, 1980, the day Mount St. Helens blew.

She married John in Ritzville on Nov. 7, 1981. She was a homemaker, first, who supported her husband in his family farm business.

She did many tailoring and altering jobs. Her passion was serving in her medieval history group, the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). She was a member of the Barony of Wastekeep in Tri Cities.

She was active in her church, the Ephrata United Methodist Church. She was always an eager and enthusiastic worker of the church rummage sale.

She loved people unconditionally and would gladly give anyone something to eat. She had a great love of family and would call her mother and her Aunt Peggy multiple times per week. She was very fond of her husband John, her father Gilbert, her mother Stanna Lee, her brother Dean and her mother-in-law Shirley Morris.

She was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in December 2008. She was well aware of the difficult road she would be traveling with the progression of the disease. She put up a courageous fight until the very end.

She is survived by her husband of 31 years, John; parents, Gilbert and Stanna Lee; brother, Dean; and numerous relatives and friends.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the many friends and caregivers that stepped up and gave them support, comfort and encouragement during this long-suffering, grief-filled journey.

The family requests that memorials be sent to the Ephrata United Methodist Church; Trinity United Methodist Church of Ritzville; The Inland Northwest Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association; or the Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center Employees Emergency Fund.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, the Ritzville Cemetery, followed by a reception at Trinity United Methodist Church.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Ephrata United Methodist Church.

Danekas Funeral Home of Ritzville is entrusted with the arrangements.

An online guestbook is available at http://www.danekasfuneralhome.org.