William Dayton Morrison

William Dayton Morrison died on Monday, April 30, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on August 16, 1920, the third of nine children, in Utica, Mississippi, where he was raised on a farm. He started his service with the military in 1942 in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was selected for aviation school in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. After graduation, he was sent to Walla Walla, Washington to refine his skills flying B-24 bombers. There he met his future wife, Mary Elaine Kolberg. His next move was to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for further instruction. Since it was 1944 and during World War II, he called Mary Elaine to come to Virginia where they married. Following World War II, he participated in the Berlin airlift. He was honored to attend both the Command and Staff School and the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. After 25 years of active duty, several overseas assignments, and numerous stateside ones, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1966. Later he opened a commercial nursery. His experience of raising many crops while growing up in Mississippi, gave him the valuable knowledge to produce beautiful flowers and vegetables at Morrison Farms for 36 years. He once again retired in 2005. In Atlanta, he regularly enjoyed his association with Silver Wings, a fraternity of former military pilots. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mary Elaine Morrison and a son, Michael Thomas Morrison. He is survived by a son and daughter, William Douglas Morrison of Atlanta, Georgia and Cynthia Morrison Seibels (Robert) of Montgomery, Alabama, 3 grandsons, Robert Emmet Seibels IV (Faith), William Temple Seibels (Virginia) and Ryan Christopher Seibels (Mary Katherine) and 6 great grandchildren all of Nashville, Tennessee. He is also survived by 2 sisters, Marie Harlan and Polly Frazier. The family will receive friends, Thursday, May 3 from 10-11AM. A graveside service will follow in Utica, Mississippi at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to the charity of one’s choice.