Jeffrey "Jeff" Alan Morris

Jeff Morris, age 40, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the afternoon of May 6, 2016, following a heroic battle with cancer. While we mourn being separated from him for a while, we take great comfort in knowing that he is without pain, that he is enjoying a beautiful paradise beyond any earthly comprehension, and that we will see him again in the life hereafter. Jeff was forty years old.

Funeral: 2:00 pm Friday May 13, 2016 at Moore Funeral Home, followed by interment at Moore Memorial Gardens. Visitation: 5:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday May 12, 2016 at the funeral home.

Jeff was born in Irving, Texas and lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area his entire life. Raised by his parents, Gene and Nan Morris in Arlington for all of his school-age years until he moved to Dallas to attend college at UTD. In June 1996, he married his high school sweetheart, Desiree Seeton, and together they had two adorable daughters: Rachel (age 18 at his passing) and Rebecca (age 6). He was utterly devoted to his family, and he was loyal to his many friends.

Jeff graduated from Sam Houston High School in Arlington in 1993, and was a faithful member of Crossroads Christian Church of Grand Prairie for many years. He was a devoted husband, as well as a nurturing father to two daughters, and he loved them all greatly and unconditionally. Jeff had many hobbies and interests that reflected his intellectually curious mind, including disc golf, chess, pool, movies, music, pitching washers, running, and rooting for his favorite baseball team, the Texas Rangers. He had a witty sense of humor, an easygoing, unpretentious personality, and was a fine example of a life well lived.

There are simply too many tales and memories from the people who knew Jeff to capture the breadth of his life with just one. Instead, the best way to sum up Jeff's life is with the word "friendship". Jeff was big-hearted, honest, thoughtful, and overflowing with compassion for all of the many, many friends in his life. From his childhood until the day he died, he was utterly selfless in the way he helped, listened, and cared for people, never seeking recognition or payback. Once you were a friend to Jeff, you were always a friend to Jeff. It went without saying that you were accepted for who you were. He was a model of behavior for countless people who needed guidance on how to be a good father, good husband, and good person. So many times, a word or act from Jeff that he seemed not to give a second thought to was a seed in the hearts of others that would bloom and grow to brighten their lives for years to come. Jeff gave of himself so, so often, and very rarely did he take. God graced Jeff with the heart of a true servant, but unfortunately not with a life nearly long enough for those he served. Jeff will be dearly remembered by all of those privileged enough to know him.

Jeff started working at CenseoHealth almost 5 years ago. In that time, he became central to the personality of the entire company, and not just the IT organization. He was a mentor to everyone around him, freely sharing his knowledge and experience. His coworkers would say that the fact that they worked with Jeff was merely the catalyst for their friendship and relationship with him. Those who worked with Jeff and got close to him were brought into his world, and he became part of theirs.

Jeff’s goal was to make everything run smoother and faster. That included not just the code written, but also the employees at Censeo. He enlisted people to run their first marathon; he even took it so far as to challenge the finance department (to a race). You just didn’t do that there. Jeff was a natural friend, and desired that everyone feel that they were a part of the group. While the particular reason for the occasion is lost, they decided, at one point, to put on a potluck. They drummed up support, Jeff pledging to bring in his legendary bean dip. The day of that first potluck rests in infamy. The tables were gorged with casserole dishes, chafing pans, desserts… recipes from every corner of the globe. Those potlucks became a CenseoHealth ritual and the rest of the company marveled at IT’s potlucks. Donut Fridays were also born from Jeff. To this day, they have all sorts of breakfast every Friday morning to celebrate the end of the week.

The thing about a person like Jeff is that so many things about his character remain. Jeff was so many things to those who worked with him: A friend, a pal, a confidant, a mentor, a teacher, a jokester and perhaps, more than anything, a peacemaker. He brought out the best everyone and insisted that all behave, and that they could all be friends. And they were.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Desiree, his daughters, Rachel and Rebecca, his parents, Nan and Gene, and his brothers, Joe and Brian.

The family wishes to thank Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, cancer and hospice units, for the tender care provided by a loving and caring team of professionals. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to Cancer Research Institute in Jeff’s name would be an ongoing memorial to his life.