Vera Louise Morris

Vera Louise Woodell Morris, wife of the late Raymond Verbon Morris Sr. and a long-time resident of San Antonio TX entered Heaven's gates into the arms of Our Lord on October 21, 2022. She was born August 21, 1927, in Ocala, Florida. She was the daughter of William Otis Woodell and Edna Catherine Tiller Woodell.

Vera was a woman of strength, fortitude, and courage. She was of a giving nature with a strong Christian faith that was demonstrated by a life lived caring for others. She was humble and never engaged in self-aggrandizement, but simply accepted and overcame any challenge before her.

After graduating early from high school at the age of 16, she began working at Barnett Tire and Battery Company in Columbia South Carolina to help support her family as her father had died when she was a young child, leaving her mother with four young girls to raise on her own. Over the next 20+ years she worked at Barnett's, the IRS and then Civil Service to support her and her mother without questioning the responsibility she had assumed. Late in 1964 her sister Catherine Ruth unexpectedly passed away leaving behind a husband with 4 children. Approximately 1 year later Vera accepted a proposal of marriage from her former brother-in-law Raymond, and subsequently went to Ft Huachuca Arizona to help care for her sister's children and her new husband. Without hesitation she accepted the responsibilities that came with taking on a ready made family with four children. She accepted us as her own and we accepted her as mom. As Raymond was in the Army the family was transferred from Ft Huachuca to Stuttgart Germany for three years and then to Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio TX. When they came to San Antonio Vera resumed her career with Civil Service and Raymond subsequently retired from the Army. After Raymond retired they moved to a small farm near China Grove TX. They raised and trained Brittany Spaniels for field trials, and also raised cows, sheep, horses, an assortment of fowl, and grew an amazing garden. At 65 Vera retired from the civil service and became a full time farmer's wife. As Vera and Ray grew older, Raymond began to suffer the ravages of dementia and Alzheimer's. Again without hesitation Vera accepted the responsibility of caring for her husband until he passed away in March of 1999. The next 23 years was Vera's "me" time which she enjoyed immensely. She enjoyed shopping, visiting with friends and family, attending her church, and fellowshipping with her "church family" whom she dearly loved. While still driving at the age of 90 Vera would "visit the old folks and shut ins" at nursing homes. Vera was very relationship orientated and was always doing for others.

Throughout her life Vera had many hobbies and interests which included traveling, decorating cakes for special occasions, canning vegetables from the garden, knitting, and making cards for special occasions for family and friends on her computer. Vera especially enjoyed "treating friends and family to dinner". One of her favorite restaurants was Supper at Hotel Emma in downtown San Antonio where she was friends with Chef John, Supper's head chef. Vera was also an avid amateur nutritionist and did extensive research on eating a proper diet to maintain a healthy life. This surely contributed to her long life.

Vera is survived by daughters Melba Louise Jacobson of Pipe Creek, TX, Catherine Lee Morris of Houston, TX; sons Raymond Verbon Morris Jr. (Jaz), in The Philippines, and William Dennis Morris (Georgia) of San Antonio, TX; grandchildren Catherine Lea Morris (Jeffrey) Lear, Raymond Verbon Morris III, William Morris. Also surviving is one sister Susanna (Sue) West Woodell (Corban) Tabler of Greenville, SC; and many nieces and nephews

Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by sisters Catherine Ruth Woodell Morris and Marian Etta Woodell Schwartz, an infant niece Alma Louise Schwartz, and an infant nephew Nathaniel Corban Tabler.

Vera was a long standing member of Salem Sayers Baptist Church in Adkins TX. It was a place she found peace and dearly loved. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Salem Sayers Baptist Church.

A visitation for Vera will be held Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Salem Sayer Baptist Church, 5212 FM 1628, Adkins, TX 78101, and the funeral service will begin at 12:00 PM. A committal service will occur Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78234.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SunsetNorthFuneralHome.com for the Morris family.