Stewart Morris

Stewart Morris Sr. went peacefully to be with the Lord the evening of Monday, the 11th of March, with many close family members nearby. He was 104 years young, still mentally sharp and still thinking about the future. While we will miss him, his memory and guidance will remain in our hearts for our entire lives.

He was born at home in Houston in 1919, the youngest of 5 children, to Willie Stewart Morris and William Carloss Morris. His family had moved to Houston from Galveston after the devastating 1900 Storm that destroyed Galveston. He loved animals and had everything from mice to chickens to a horse to a leopard as he grew up. Stewart later graduated from SMU law school and it was in Dallas that he ran across his old friend from childhood, Joella Mitchell, whom he had met many years before at church camp. Marriage followed and Stewart soon went to the Naval Midshipman School at Columbia University to prepare to enter service in World War II serving in the Pacific as an executive officer aboard LST 38 in 7 horrific invasions. He and Joella were married in 1943 for over 70 years and had three children, Carlotta, Stewart Jr. and Lisa.

Over his life Stewart was a naval officer, attorney, title insurance executive, land developer, banker, rancher, pilot, and community leader. The foundation for his life was Faith, Family and Friends. He was an encourager, innovator, accomplisher, leader, and he was usually the center of attention for those around him. He was interesting to talk to and would say in English or Spanish, discerning things you might not expect. He viewed life situations in an inciteful way. There is a small book published by Stewart Title with many of his “Stewartisms” entitled The World Turns on Personalities which was his favorite saying.

In business, he was primarily dedicated to the success of Stewart Title Company where he served all his life starting at age 10 advancing to President, and later President and Co-CEO of the holding company, Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC). He was the best ambassador for the company, serving for almost 90 years knowing the founders and what they stood for, as well as the industry challenges and opportunities. The company traces its beginning to 1893 when his uncle Maco Stewart with his 2 brothers, Minor and Clegg expanded their law practice to include abstracting with the purchase of several abstract companies in Galveston. Stewart’s father started with the firm in 1897 as a stenographer and grew to be counsel and then first shareholder of Stewart Title Guaranty Company when it was formed in 1908 as the first title insurance company based in Texas. Early on, Stewart worked most every job in the business and was thrown into the leadership with brother, Carloss Morris in 1950 when their father, William Carloss Morris and the 2 other top company leaders all passed away in the same year. He worked with Carloss for over 60 years leading the company for most of their working lives. Carloss led the legal and underwriting side of the company while Stewart led the affiliated title office operations. Stewart took STC out of TX starting in 1956 jumping to Albuquerque, then Phoenix and then Los Angeles. Under his leadership the company expanded nationwide and worldwide. He led the international expansion first to England and then to many other European, Eastern European and Asian countries. He was the visionary growth artist of the company. Stewart personally purchased a V-tail Bonanza in about 1954 to fly himself to visit STC offices and independent agents eventually amassing over 4,000 flying hours moving up to piston twins and later to turboprop aircraft. His mantra was “Be There!” as he firmly believed that people make the difference in everything, and they need positive encouragement as well as updates from the home office and ideas for success in each market. He dreamed up the great title for the STC receptionist, “Director of First Impressions.” He would say about the Associates of STC: “our team make it happen.” He believed that the customers were the source of prosperity and spent much time with them. He was a leader and innovator in the title industry which provides security in ownership of all types of real estate.

As a developer he participated in the land development of the incomparable Houston area communities of Nassau Bay across from the Manned Space Craft Center as well as Sugar Creek in Sugarland. As a banker he owned a string of banks over the years ending with the formation, growth and eventual sale of the Southern National Bank to Prosperity Bank.

Stewart and the love of his life, Joella Mitchell Morris (deceased 2013) were involved in all sorts of things in the community that had to do with church, education, history, art, as well as horse drawn vehicles. He was the last surviving founder of Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University which started in 1960 and he stayed intimately involved with the growth and financial needs of HCU for the rest of his life. Joella founded the Museum of Southern History, now located on the HCU campus in the Joella and Stewart Morris Center for Cultural Arts. Stewart also led the effort to establish the HCU Morris Family Center for Law and Liberty which teaches the constitution and “founding father principles” including the concept of Free Enterprise. The Center is now based in the new Independence Hall on campus, patterned after the original building in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were hammered out and adopted. Stewart and Joella also restored one of the original homes in the middle of the campus of W&L in Lexington, VA, now called the Morris House. The house is 2 doors down from the campus home of Robert E. Lee and looks down on to the campus chapel.

Stewart and family are collectors of horse drawn vehicles and drive them as well for many community events and pleasure. He is a past President of the Carriage Association of America as well as a founder and past chair of the Carriage Museum of America.

Stewart had daily Bible study, regularly cited memorized scripture, which became the guiding principles for his life, carrying a small Bible with him always. His personal sayings were based on the Bible, “Work as unto the Lord” and not for yourself, company or people; “do right,” “Do not be wise in your own eyes but acknowledge Him in all your ways”. Trade Fear for Faith from the boldness in Christ (not personal arrogance) which leads to confidence, but give God the glory.

Stewart is survived by his children; Carlotta Coffman, Stewart Morris Jr. and his wife, Joy, and Lisa Simon and her husband Jerry; 8 grandchildren; Vanessa Zein-Eldin and her husband David, Danielle Alvarado and her husband Mike, Joellan Mullen and her husband Chris, Faith Morris, Grace Morris and her husband Luke Schlitz, Stewart Morris III, Camella Clements, and her husband Brad Moore, and Glenn Clements Jr. and his wife Jennifer; 10 great grandchildren: Cameron Zein-Eldin, Joanna Zein-Eldin, Isabella Alvarado, Ryan Mullen, Jackson Mullen, Connor Clements, Penelope Bryant, Amelia Clements, Wylie Moore, and Minya Clements.

Stewart’s long, productive, incredible life was made possible by dedicated helpers including; Grace Trevino, his assistant for over 45 years, Ana Bautista, Lino Bautista, Juan Son and Marlon Pilor, Brenda Chavez, Mike Hatchey, Clifton Wan and Monica Hartland, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love.

A memorial service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 6th of April, in the Worship Center of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. Edwin H. Young, Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family and share remembrances of Stewart during a reception to be held at a venue to be announced during the service.

Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston.

For those unable to attend the service, virtual attendance may be accessed by visiting his online memorial at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the “Services” section. While there you may also share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions please be directed to; the Morris Family Center for Law and Liberty at Houston Christian University, attn: Office of Development, P.O Box 4897, Dept. # 527, Houston, Texas 77210. www.hc.edu/giving