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Cemetery Location Map to Gravesite |
Birth Date: 9/18/1928
Death Date: 2/9/1974
Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Garden of Devotion, Lot 75 C, Grave 1
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| Bill was born on his parent's anniversary, September 18, 1928 in Sikeston, Missouri. He was Fleta J. and Howard Morrison's second child. Their first child, Betty Jo or BJ was 22 months older than Billy. The family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, then to New Jersey, and they finally settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. The kids spent the summers at Fleta's parents farm in Buckeye, Missouri and it was there that Bill became enamored with watermelons and the great outdoors. He was an avid fisherman, and he loved to hunt as well. Bill and Betty Jo graduated from Shortridge High School and then went on to Butler University. Bill left after two years and went to the Army where he made rank of Second Lieutenant, but thankfully, the Korean War ended before he was shipped out. He had a brief marriage to Nancy Owens, which lasted less than a year in 1950. He worked for Stokely Foods. In the mid 50's, he met and married Ann Starn. His parents gave them money for a down payment to buy a house. Bill brought home a sewing machine one day and lots of white material. Ann was overwhelmed at the beginning, but created beautiful drapes for the entire house. Bill showed them off proudly to all who entered their home. March 15, 1956 Ann gave birth to their only child, Janie. Bill worked as a mortgage lender, and then for a couple of local builders before beginning his own building company in 1968. He earned an excellent reputation in the building community because he was honest and dependable and put quality in every home. He designed and built many of the homes in Ivy Hills. Ann and Bill belonged to bridge clubs and both had Scout troops. Bill took Boy Scouts from Northminister Presbyterian Church camping once a month all year long for several years. He was very proud of his Eagle Scouts. Bill was an excellent golfer and shot in the low 70's. He was very athletic, and was good at whatever he set his mind to. He loved building and liked to meet with his subcontractors early in the morning, and then go to the job sites until early afternoon. Then if all was well, he'd head off to the golf course. I have been told that he was known to drop a fishing line in any puddle he ran across on the way home too. Bill was an usher at the church and he was a family man. He adored his wife, and treated her like a lady. He always opened doors for her, cars doors too, and he never had anything but good things to say about her. I never heard them argue. They had a partnership in the business as well as in life, where they respected and enjoyed each other. They both had their own interests, as well as things they liked to do together. Bill loved to read. He was well informed, smart as a whip, and very opinionated. He read news, sports, fishing, trade magazines and books. He was a people person, and although he was serious and mature in many ways, he had a mean streak of playfulness about him. One of our friends said he'd switch sides in the middle of a debate just for the fun of it. He put his parents, sister, and brother-in-law on his Board of Directors of his Corporation and he spoke with them often, and valued their input and their friendship. He was a great father to Janie, whom he taught to row, fish, clean fish, play a mean game on ping pong. He inspired her love of reading and education, taught her to see good in others and give back to those less fortunate. We lost him much too young, at 45. |
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Billy and Betty Jo Morrison about 1931 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Bill's 8th Grade Graduation picture.
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Bill and Betty Jo at Grandparent's farm in Buckeye, Missouri.
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Bill Morrison, 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.
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Bill and Ann's wedding with their parents, Myron and Louise Starn and Fleta and Howard Morrison.
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Bill and daughter Janie at Ackers Point Resort, Delton, Michigan about 1961.
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Bill Morrison with wife, Ann and dog, Mitzi in front of the house he built. Wm. H. Morrison, Bldr., Inc. is born!
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Bill smiling after Thansgiving dinner in Boston with his sister's family, November, 1972.
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Bill with sister, BJ Hopkins at their parent's co=op in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
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Bill fishing for bass, successfully!
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