Morris attended Lake Charles High School, then worked in his father's grocery store on the corner of Lyons and Saint John Street. He then served in World War Il, first in the Army Signal Corps with General Patton in the North African Theater of war, then in the Army Combat Engineers in the campaign up the Italian Boot and on into Southern France, until the war in Europe ended. He was then being sent via ship convoy to the Pacific when just before getting to the Panama Canal, word came the war was over. He stated on his 100th Birthday, since he was never married, that was the happiest day of his life.
After the war, Morris worked as an undercover agent contracted to the different transcontinental bus lines, before there were interstate highways. He then worked for several years at the Cities Service Refinery and finally for the I. L. Lyons Drug Wholesale Company. After retiring, he maintained for many years his state licensed home nursery business until Hurricane Laura. The last 6 weeks of his life, he was wonderfully cared for at the Southwest LA. Veterans Home in Jennings.
He is survived by nieces Frances Garrison (Charles) and Elizabeth Acevedo (Sam); nephews Peter Ragusa (Alicia) and Alvin York (Rebecca) and cousins/ caretakers Lawrence and Maria Lupo. Also many other cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents Felix and Fannie Mosca Collura; brothers Sam, Johnny and Louis Collura; sisters Lena Cascio, Mary Ragusa and Jennie York. The family gives heartfelt THANKS to the doctors and staff of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, Landmark Nursing Facility and the Veterans Home in Jennings.
Visitation will begin at 10:30am Friday April 28th at Hixson Funeral Home on Ryan Street, followed by a mass of Christian burial at 12:30pm at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church where Morris ushered for over 40 years with interment to follow at Consolata Cemetery alongside two of his brothers.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com for the Collura family.
