Wilma Morris

Wilma Marie Morris was a strong Christian woman, committed to her family and dutiful in her labor. Though somewhat introverted, she invested in the activities of her children, church and friends, and she ventured into the workplace as well as the great outdoors. Wilma lived her life in gratitude for the good gifts God had given her.

Wilma was born in 1916, when Americans re-elected Woodrow Wilson because they hoped he would continue to keep them out of the war in Europe. While the government maintained its official position of neutrality, the country forged ahead in manufacturing and cultural changes – from assembly lines and faster Model Ts to women’s suffrage and prohibition, from fair labor laws to ragtime bands and silent films.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cornelius and Marie (Roos) Minnaar celebrated the birth of their daughter, Wilma Marie, on October 5, 1916 at their home on Lincoln Avenue NW. While her mother was busy at home, Wilma’s father worked as a carpenter to support the family of seven children: Joe, Wilma, Peter, Anthony, Arthur, Dorothy and George. Wilma attended West Side Christian School and, unlike some young women of the time, she graduated from Union High School in 1934 during the early years of the Depression. Also, unique to her generation, Wilma entered the work force and continued in her career until retirement.

Wilma first worked as a stenographer for Cook Coffee and dated a young man she had met in high school, William “Bill” Morris. Over the years, they fell in love and decided to get married. The joyful day was August 12, 1938 and the lovely setting was Gracewil Lawns County Club, which was owned by William’s sister Marian and her husband John. The newlyweds lived in an apartment off Crescent Street NE and later moved to Gold Avenue NW. They were conveniently located near Gold Avenue Chapel and faithfully attended there until moving to Ninth Reformed Church. From the earliest days of their marriage, Wilma and Bill were true Westsiders.

In 1941, the young couple bought an abandoned house at 1071 Bristol NW and fixed it up. Wilma was employed at Keeler Brass as part of the war effort and later worked for a textbook company in downtown Grand Rapids. Eventually she took a job with Meijer stores as one of the original employees at the Alpine Avenue location. She remained a faithful employee for 25 years, retiring in the 1980s.

During the time Wilma and Bill lived on Bristol, their four oldest children were born.

Then in 1953, they built a house at 946 Parkhurst, and their son Dennis was born. They lived there until 1957 when they moved into Bill’s boyhood home at 1001 Frederick NW. In 1964 they moved to 723 Strobel NW, and life for the Morris family settled into a rhythm of work and play, church and community.

Bill found work at Bissell and excelled there during his tenure as an inspector. He invented a number of product improvements. In those days, successful suggestions were rewarded monetarily, and Bill was the recipient of several such awards.

All of Bill and Wilma’s hard work was rewarded with family camping vacations to the Smokies, the Porcupine Mountains, Copper Harbor or Grand Haven. Everything for camping was loaded into the family’s two wheel green trailer and off they went. Never mind that their army surplus tent took 2 ½ hours to set up or take down and that most of the family had to sleep on the floor of the tent, these trips were the stuff of which family memories were made.

As a parent, Wilma was active in the PTA and assisted as a den mother for a number of years with the Cub Scouts. She faithfully attended her church and met regularly with the “Club.” The Club was a group of a half dozen women who had begun meeting together while they were in high school. It started out as a Bible study group, and Wilma and her friends continued to meet monthly for many, many years.

Wilma relied on her faith, family and friends when Bill became very ill. After a two year struggle with throat cancer, Bill died in 1978 at the age 63. Altogether too soon, Wilma had lost her beloved husband and friend. They had enjoyed life together in so many ways with their family and when they were empty nesters. Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners were legendary, and family birthdays always turned up cakes and cards from Wilma. In the later years of their marriage, they toured the country with their car and travel trailer, went to Kiwanis travelogues at the Civic Auditorium or attended plays at the Civic Theatre. Wilma and Bill shared a life of love and faithfulness that was extended to her family. Even after her husband’s death, Wilma still took the grandkids camping and remained close with her siblings. Family mattered to Wilma.

Even with all her involvements, Wilma cherished her privacy and enjoyed staying around the house. She loved reading, doing ceramics and collecting spoons and ceramic birds. She was a fan of song-stylings of Liberace, Dean Martin and Perry Como, yet she was also enjoyed playing the organ, which she taught herself. Gardening gave Wilma great satisfaction, and she was especially proud of her roses.

Wilma spent her last years at Lincoln Square Apartments. Her second floor room allowed a nice view to watch and hear the birds. she enjoyed "going down" to meals in the attractive dining room where she made many friends.

Wilma passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2008. She lived her 91 years in the strength of her character and convictions. She will be missed by her beloved family, who remember her with deep love and affection.

Mrs. Wilma Marie Morris was preceded in death by husband William, brothers Joe, Peter, Arthur, Anthony and George Minnaar. She is survived by her children, Dale and Vicki Morris, Alan and Aggie Morris, Larry Morris, Dennis and Kathy Morris, Marcia and William Pluim. Also surviving are her 12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, sister Dorothy (Ed) Shreve, sisters-in-law Mina, Frieda and Ruth Minnaar and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11AM at Standale Reformed Church 202 Cummings NW, with her pastor Rev. Steve Simon officiating. Interment Rosedale Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family at the Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes – Van’t Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard St NW on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9PM and at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the church building fund. You may sign the guestbook, archive a memory or a photo by visiting www.lifestorynet.com