Delbert Webber Morris of Enumclaw, Washington, passed away peacefully at his home in Enumclaw, on October 13, 2013, after suffering from COPD and congestive heart disease. He was 82 years old.
Born December 20, 1930, in Pomeroy, Washington. Delbert lived most of the first twelve years of his life in Shriner’s Hospital in Spokane, because he was born with club feet and required repeated surgeries. He left high school to serve in the U.S. Navy in 1949. Then he returned to graduate from Pomeroy High School in 1950.
Delbert married Evelyn Lucille Crawford on November 9, 1950, in Pomeroy. They lived in eastern Washington for a few years before moving to western Washington. In 1956 Delbert went to work for the Boeing Company and during his 14 years with the company he worked in Washington, California, South Dakota, Wyoming and Iceland. In 1970 he left Boeing to go into business for himself, buying and operating a number of service stations until he retired at the age of 58. After his retirement he and Evelyn finally settled in Greenwater, WA, where Delbert served as Fire Commissioner for several years. After Evelyn passed away in 2009, Delbert moved to Enumclaw, WA.
Delbert is survived by his sisters B.G.(Barbara Gail) Foisy and her husband Verner of Bellevue, WA and Laura Ferender Jellison and her husband Blynn of Snohomish, WA; his daughter Susan Routh and her husband Don, grandson Michael Routh and his wife Krizia Naegele-Routh and great grandchildren Noah Ray Naegele-Routh and Davi Thomas Naegele-Routh, his granddaughter Kimberly Routh; his daughter Brenda Penner and her husband Randy, granddaughters Diedra Penner and her husband Jake Charlton, Angelica Seely and her husband David; his daughter Cynthia Morris; his daughter Debra Ramirez, grandchildren Jacob Russell, Paul Ramirez and Hannah Ramirez; and countless cousins, nieces & nephews.
Delbert was predeceased by his father, Melvin Everett Morris, his mother, Mary Ellen Bowne and stepfather Charlie Bowne.
Delbert will be deeply missed near and far as he and Evelyn made many friends across the US and Canada during their extensive motorcycle trips covering 48 of the 50 states and many provinces.
He was a loving and stern father as is very well expressed in a well-known song “Daddy’s hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´. Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong. Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle But I´ve come to understand. There was always love in Daddy´s hands.” Delbert had a generous heart. He was always willing to help out those in need.
All are invited to sign the online guest book below.
Memorial donations may be made to:
South Sound CARE Foundation, P.O. Box 1314, Tacoma, WA 98401-1314, 206-552-4419 www.southsoundcarefoundation.org – or –
Shriner’s Hospital, Spokane, WA,
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development
2900 Rocky Point Drive,
Tampa, FL 33607. Credit card gifts
can be faxed to (813) 281-7156 or at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org