Charlene Marie Morris' Obituary
Charlene Marie (Reisdorf) Morris
Born and raised in Iowa, met her husband Bob in Virginia then settled in Arkansas City (Ark City) Kansas to raise her family. To us, her children, she was first and foremost a mother, the mama. And not just to us, but to all our friends and most everyone she knew. She was the neighborhoods mom. Mom was also a child of God, faithful to Him to the end, active in the church. Making sure her family and friends, whom she considered family, were cared for correctly, she became a leader in most everything, holding other leaders accountable. She joined the PTA then later worked in the Ark City Middle School. She earned a degree from Cowley County Community College in 1986 and became the Management Information Systems Manager at the Cowely County offices and worked to keep the county Sheriff and Commissioners efficient and productive. Became one of the chairs in our local church and helped the other elders with organizing, planning and managing church activities. Always involved in everything she's done. The arts were important to her. Herself a musician, a member of the Sweet Adeline's, involved in the church choir, piano, clarinet, others and lately learning the banjo. All of us had some involvement to some extent because of her. And she faithfully attended the Walnut Valley Festival and National Flat-Picking Championships every year. Mom was also a member of the Walnut Valley Quilters Guild as well as a smaller group called Sew-What in Winfield Kansas, traveling all over for quilting adventures with her quilting friends. A fighter till the end. A Navy Veteran (Navy WAVE) through the Vietnam era (RM2/E5 JAN 1962 – May 1966). Raising 4 rambunctious kids through the 70's and 80's. Mom fought and won over 4 types of cancer, 2 primary ones for lung cancer, going through bouts of chemo and radiation therapy, all in 2014. Then later further treatments for her lungs with cyber knife procedures. Supporting her husband Bob through his own fight with cancer which he lost in 2016. After 51 years of marriage mom started living by herself, but never alone, a friend always nearby, for 6 years until she moved to Virginia with her eldest and family, fighting the slow deterioration, the consequences of the battle she fought with lung cancer for almost 2 more years. Doing everything to still be adventurous through to the end, exploring the Virginia countryside, going to festivals, amusement parks, even spending time at a granddaughters graduation celebration just this past May. After celebrating her 81st birthday in June, mom passed peacefully in her sleep during the very early hours of Tuesday morning, the 16th of July, 2024. We know in our hearts that she is singing the Lords praises, alongside her husband Bob, brother Charles, her Mom and Dad, and all those who went before. Charlene is survived by her kids: Tom & Pam Morris, Rick & Katie Morris, Dave & Courtney Morris, and Dawn and James Burns, 8 grand-kids, 1 great grandson and one great grandson to be born soon. Also 3 sisters and 2 brothers and many nieces, nephews and in-laws.
An online guestbook and tribute wall are available at www.foundandsons.com
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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