Raymond Ray Millard Morris

Raymond Millard Morris was born July 20, 1947 in Oakland California to Verl and Geraldine Morris. He was the oldest of three children. In 1956, the family moved to Sun Valley California where he attended Polytechnic High School and graduated class of 65. While in high school he excelled at archery and his favorite track sport was shot put. He also attended Valley College for 2 years. At the age of 18 he started working for Paragon Tool & Die and later at General Electric as a sheet metal punch press operator. (As a side note, Ray became involved with body building and while he worked out at Vince’s Gym in Studio City he befriended young actors Clint Eastwood and Clint Walker. It was at that time he met fight promoter Tuffy Truesdale and began training to be a professional wrestler and was named “Man Mountain Morris”. For grand openings he wrestled a black bear named Victor… He loved wrestling this bear until one match that ended Rays wrestling career. That was due to Victor having had a bottle of soda that he shouldn’t have had prior to the match causing the bear to urinate when he was excited…he pinned Ray down and excitingly claimed his win by urinating all over Ray…no more wrestling…) While working night shifts, he and his brother Phillip opened a photography studio on Ventura Blvd in Studio City. After a couple of years in business, they decided to pursue different interests. Ray and Phil still working factory jobs at night had provided the means for their sister, Jeanne, to attend Mortuary College. Ray’s interest in the funeral industry began when he decided to look at the textbooks he had purchased for his sister… he followed suit six months later and enrolled in the California College of Mortuary Science. He graduated in 1975 and served his apprenticeship at Groman Eden Mortuary in Los Angeles and West Valley. For several years, he worked two full time jobs… daytime at the funeral home and nights in the factory. His strong work ethics were surpassed by none and lived by the idea that if you want it, you have to work for it…no such thing as free and everything comes with a price…

As a licensed embalmer, he worked for Mt Sinai Mortuary in Los Angeles. In 1983 the “light of his life” son, Jean Paul was born. Ray had now left the factory work and changed to working night shift at Mt. Sinai. Being the workaholic after coming down from two full time jobs he filled his daytime with trade embalming for Kenny Schenk and doing as many removals as he could get. …. . In 1985 the “joy of his life”, daughter, Lara Phyllis Jeanne was born. As a father he was totally devoted, protective, proud and loving. Shortly after Lara was born he started working at Forest Lawn Glendale in Los Angeles. Still doing trade embalming and removals for both Forest Lawn and a private transport company during off hours, his embalming and cosmetic skills were honed to near perfection. His talents were called upon many times to perform his magic on high profile cases for Forest Lawn Glendale.

Ray’s world was shattered when he learned of the deaths of his two babies, Jean Paul 6, and Lara 4, in December of 1989. Light and joy were no longer a part of his existence and he was indeed a man lost. In late 1991 he moved from Southern California to Washington to erase a very sad past. In 1992 he began his Northwest career with UniService out of Purdy and Walters with Cassidy, then Bleitz Funeral Home. From Bleitz he came to Greenwood Funeral Home. When the preparation rooms merged into a care center he transferred to Acacia Funeral Home.

It was at Purdy and Walters that Ray met Kathy Pearson. Upon their first meeting neither realized the impact that each would have upon their lives… time passed and the bonds strengthened… Ray and Kate found in each other something that was lacking for each of them… the meaning of true love… Ray was now a “man found” and the light and joy of his life once returned… Kate was his “phoenix” as he returned to his happy, peaceful self. Ray loved to travel as they went to Hawaii and Europe on several occasions. He enjoyed his RV and their camping trips around Washington. The little apples of his eye are Auggie and Jake, or the “Boys” as he called them and it was for their benefit that he purchased the RV so they could all travel together. Reading, talking, old movies, talking, crossword puzzles, talking, music and talking politics, religion, history and world events were all things that he thoroughly enjoyed along with a good cup of coffee and a cigarette… and did I mention talking?…

Ray will be sadly missed by his family and numerous friends. He is survived by his loving wife, Kate, brother Phillip and his wife Cheryl, and his sister Jeanne. Kate’s family, sons Mike Sisk, Lance (Jessica) Pearson and daughter Theresa (Todd) Cocking and several grandchildren, K 9 sons Auggie and Jake.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.