Legacy

The MORRIS clan started out in Scotland and later moved to Canada and on to the United States. This family group also contains the surname GRAY, which according to the Commemorative Biographical Record of Ulster County, New York is an

“…ancient French family that settled in England several hundred years ago. The name is of local origin, that is, following the name of a place, in Burgundy, France. The name was originally Croy, and the first of the family who went over to England were followers of William the Conqueror, in 1066. Among the names of those included at “Battle Abbey” after the decisive Battle of Hastings as worthy to be remembered for valiant services there rendered, was J. de Gray. After the Conquest, other members of the family migrated from Burgundy and settled in Great Britain, some in England, some in Scotland and others in Ireland. In England, the name is usually spelled Grey, but in Scotland and the United States more generally Gray.”

Whether or not this family group is related to J. de Gray has yet to be determined.

Generation 1

James MORRIS

and

Elizabeth REID

James was a laborer who worked with dynamite in Stevenston, Scotland. He married Elizabeth REID in December 31, 1874 in Kilmarnock.

Generation 2

James Reid MORRIS

April 9, 1888 – May 3, 1920

and

Eliza Ann Lynn GRAY Morris Forbes

June 26, 1889 – December 19, 1972

James Reid followed in his father’s footsteps and became a laborer. He worked for duPont’s and died in Canada during an explosion. Eliza remarried James Stuart Forbes. They were known as Binnie Mom Mom and Binnie Pop

Rachel GRAY Stewart

Rachel married Jack Stewart. They had two daughters: Liza and Agnes.

Jean GRAY Lough

Jean married Jim Lough. They had a son named James, Jr.

Ada GRAY Hunter

Ada married Jim Hunter. Their children are Eleanor, Dorothy Jean, Mabel, Elizabeth, Leah, Alan and Gordon.

Thomas GRAY

He has a daughter named Margaret.

William GRAY

Daniel GRAY

Daniel married Ann Hunt and they have a son, Daniel.

Jim GRAY

Elizabeth MORRIS Brown

Kate MORRIS

Ella MORRIS

Generation 3

Eliza Lynn MORRIS Emrick

September 13, 1910 – January 8, 1990

Eliza was born in Beloiel, Canada, which is just outside of Montreal. She eventually moved to the United States and found work as a telephone operator for Ma Bell (AT&T). She married Wilbur Russell EMRICK, Sr. and they had two children: Wilbur Russell and James Stuart (see EMRICK Group). Eliza was active in the Eastern Star.

Muriel Rhoda MORRIS Morton

October 23, 1911 – July 30, 1970

Muriel was also born in Beloiel, Canada. She married John (“Jack”) MORTON. Jack was born on June 27, 1911 in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland and his brother, Alex, married Muriel’s sister Rachel “Hazel” (see entry for Rachel). Muriel and Jack had one son, Stuart Forbes.

James Reid MORRIS Jr.

January 13, 1913 – November 10, 1983

James was also born in Beloiel, Canada. He married Dorothy Elaine SCHEETZ on February 19, 1949 in The Little Church around the Corner in New York City, New York. They honeymooned in New York City the week after they were married. Dorothy was born on October 10, 1922 at her home at 1530 S. Delaware Street in Paulsboro, New Jersey. She went to work in 1944 at New Jersey Bell telephone as an operator, where she met Eliza MORRIS, James’ sister. James and Dorothy have seven children: Suzanne Elaine, James Reid Jr., Kathie Lynn, Dorothy Jean, Alexander Morton, George John, and Elizabeth Wood.

Rachel “Hazel” Neville MORRIS Morton

August 22, 1915 – January 22, 1998

Rachel was born in Beloiel, Canada. She married Alexander Gardner Jack MORTON. Alex was born on April 14, 1913 in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland and died on December 5, 2002 in Oklahoma. Alex’s mother was Catherine Peebles JACK Morton and his father was John MORTON. Alex has two brothers: Jim who was born on August 5, 1915 and John (“Jack”) who was born on June 27, 1911. The three brothers came to the United States in May 1928. Alex entered the U.S. Army in July 1943 and was discharged in December 1945. He worked for a print house setting type.

Elizabeth Wood MORRIS

September 30, 1916 –

Elizabeth was also born in Beloiel, Canada and still holds her Canadian citizenship. She worked for the British Consul.

Eleanor HUNTER

1939 –

She had a twin brother who died at about three years old by taking his father’s heart medicine.

Dorothy Jean HUNTER

Mabel HUNTER

Elizabeth HUNTER

She is Leah’s twin.

Leah HUNTER

She is Elizabeth’s twin.

Alan HUNTER

Gordon HUNTER

Margaret GRAY

Generation 4

Stuart Forbes MORTON

July 5, 1946 –

Stuart was born in Woodbury, New Jersey. He married Lois Marie STITES, who was born January 24, 1941, and they have two children: Kimberly and Stuart Jack. Lois had a daughter from a previous marriage, Sharon Jean Maslonik, and Stuart adopted her when she was four. They moved to Oklahoma where Stuart works for Fort James Paper Co. as a screen operator and Lois works at the Warner Public Library. They enjoy spending time on Lake Tenkiller.

Suzanne Elaine MORRIS

January 4, 1950 –

Memories…by Dorothy SCHEETZ Morris

Whenever I’m shopping for cereal, I remember the time Suzanne called to me as I was on the way to the store. She wanted to remind me to pick up some cereal so she yelled, “Mom, don’t forget the ‘Lucky Charms’ cause we’re running out of ‘Life.’”

James Reid MORRIS, III.

1952 – December 1999

James married Cynthia Ann BATES on November 6, 1971 at St. Pauls Church in Paulsboro, New Jersey. They have three children, Janet Lynn, James Reid and Jason Joseph.

Kathie Lynn MORRIS

June 27, 1954 –

Kathie married Thomas Carl FREEMAN on February 16, 1974 and they have four children: Thomas Carl Jr., Benjamine Christerpher, Robert David and Amanda Michelle.

Dorothy Jean MORRIS

December 1, 1955 –

Dorothy married Wendell Dean GRUBB on September 17, 1989 and they have a daughter Rebecca Louise.

Alexander Morton MORRIS

October 26, 1957 –

Alexander married Suzanne Edwina GUIDARO on April 29, 1978. They have two children: Christa Suzanne and Shawn Alexander.

George John MORRIS

August 26, 1960 – December 1, 1955 –

Elizabeth Wood MORRIS

March 17, 1965 –

Elizabeth married Thomas Edward ELEY, Jr. on October 1, 1988. They have a daughter, Nicole Louise.

Generation 5

Sharon Jean Maslonik MORTON

May 15, 1961 –

Sharon married Douglas Ray WADDLE on May 10, 1986 and they have three children: Racheal Nichole, Jessica Rae and Stephen Gene. They live in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Sharon works for Hertz Rental Car as a computer technician and Doug is an accountant for Cummings Gas and Oil.

Kimberly Lynn MORTON Whitney

June 13, 1965 –

Kim lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband, Michael James WHITNEY, whom she married on February 14, 1997. Before that, she lived in Glendale, California. Kim works for a computer company called MCS and Mike creates neon signs.

Stuart Jack MORTON

December 11, 1973 –

Stuart married Elaine SEXTON on July 20, 1996. They bought their first home in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Stuart works in the shipping department at Fort James Paper Co. in Muskogee and Elaine is a nurse in Tahlequah. They have a German shepherd named Jake.

Janet Lynn MORRIS

March 11, 1973 –

James Reid MORRIS, IV

August 2, 1975 –

Jason Joseph MORRIS

September 6, 1981 –

Thomas Carl FREEMAN, Jr.

December 28, 1974 –

Benjamine Christerpher FREEMAN

December 25, 1976 –

Robert David FREEMAN

October 7, 1980 –

Amanda Michelle FREEMAN

November 28, 1982 –

Rebecca Louise GRUBB

September 2, 1993 –

Christa Suzanne MORRIS

January 28, 1980 –

Shawn Alexander MORRIS

October 24, 1987 –

Nicole Louise ELEY

June 14, 1994 –

Generation 6

Racheal Nichole WADDLE

June 5, 1989 –

Jessica Rae WADDLE

June 1, 1991 –

Stephen Gene WADDLE

February 25, 1996 –