Catherine Bernice Morris

Catherine Morris ( Katy), 81, of Atwater, cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend was gently called into God’s arms on September 30, 2016. Catherine mercifully fell to her battle with a lengthy illness surrounded lovingly by family until the end.

Catherine entered this life on November 26, 1934 in Snelling, California. The third of four children born to Manuel and Rita Silva. She attended grade school in Snelling and upon the family purchase of the farmland in Cressey that would become known as the Alta Vista Ranch, attended Livingston High School, where she was a cheerleader and drum majorette.

After her high school graduation in 1952, she went to work for the Livingston Company as an operator, where she worked for 2 years. It was during that time when she met and fell in love with Peter Morris, and the two were married on April 10, 1954 in the first of two ceremonies, the first ceremony in Reno, Nevada and the two weeks later in a Christian ceremony at the Mission in Carmel.

Bearing children and raising her family became the life Catherine took on from there, and it would be seven children and several years later before she returned to work.

In 1971, she began working seasonal employment at the USP Cannery in Merced for two seasons. She then began a ten year employment at the Ragu processing plant in Merced as a lab technician, a position she held until her diagnosis with breast cancer in 1983.

After defeating the disease and becoming a breast cancer survivor, she lost her loving husband and the patriarch of the Morris family, Peter, in August of 1989. Catherine lived the next 27 years surrounded by friends and family, and widely became known as Noni to all she met and knew.

Noni loved her family first and foremost, as they were the centerpiece of her life. In past years, camping vacations were some of the most enjoyable times of her life, and in later years she loved to reminisce about the countless trips the Morris family took to the Yancey Ranch with the Pitts Family. She loved to curl up in bed with a good book or a challenging crossword puzzle or Sudoku. She was keenly interested in politics, and loved a good intelligent discussion on the political climate of the day. Being raised a devout Catholic, Catherine loved to pray the rosary in her quiet time. She was also very giving and generous, donating significantly to charities over the years.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, Manuel and Rita Silva, and her beloved husband Peter Morris, with whom she is now lovingly united. She is survived by her seven children; Paul Morris (Sandy), Victoria Macias (Victor), Doug Morris (Cyndy), Tom Morris (Teresa), Robert Morris (Angie), Kathy Cometta (Rich), and Mary Brigham (Michael), all of whom reside locally, 23 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her three siblings, sister and closest friend Mary Bettencourt of Turlock, sister Margaret Salles of Merced, and brother Peter Silva of Angels Camp.

The Morris family wishes to thank Amie Marchini Home Care, Bristol Hospice, and Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home for providing Catherine and her family with compassionate care, kindness, and dignity during these extremely difficult times.

A visitation will be held on Monday, October 10, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. with the Vigil Service with Rosary being recited at 6:30 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church located at 2988 N. Buhach Rd., Atwater, California 95301. The funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with burial to follow at Winton District Cemetery located at 7651 Almond Ave, Winton, California 95388.

Arrangements under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, Merced, CA.