Thomas W. "Tom" Morris

Thomas William "Tom" Morris, age 76, of Battle Creek passed away Sunday evening, February 19, 2017 at the Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo. He was born in San Diego, CA on May 15, 1940, the son of Thomas H. and Rachael (Allen) Morris. Tom grew up in Hawaii and Southern California, and lived next to Pearl Harbor Naval Station during the attack on Pearl Harbor at the start of WWII. Tom spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy (retiring as a Surface Warfare Officer qualified for command at sea in 1979). He served in eight campaigns in Viet Nam between 1961 and 1972, and the 1961 nuclear bomb tests at Christmas Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. Tom earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from National University, San Diego, CA. and participated in numerous military and financial training programs.

Upon retiring from the Navy, Tom embarked upon another 22 years as a Commercial Lender at community and regional banks and served as Chairman, Southwest Michigan and President of the Michigan State Board of Directors for the Risk Management Association. He served two years as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at a healthcare products company before retiring. Tom also owned a real estate brokerage as a licensed broker in Michigan and California complimented by obtaining a Michigan Real Estate Appraisal license. Tom served on a local Michigan Real Estate Board of Directors from 2005-08, and owned and operated a computer repair company

Tom married the former Rae "Jean" McLaughlin Cornell Lenon on May 13, 1999; she survives. He is also survived by his six children, Rob (Yumi) Morris, David Morris, Belinda Morris, Justin Morris, Matthew Morris, and Nathan Morris; his step-sons Tom (Janet) Cornell, Jeff (Barb) Cornell, and his grandchildren and step-grandchildren whom he dearly loved; brothers, Robert (Sue) Morris, and Jim (Yvonne) Morris.

In his early years, Tom was active in football, basketball and baseball (went on to play semi-pro fast pitch softball on an all-navy team). He also enjoyed stamp collecting, reading, computer programming, website development and had traveled to many Pacific Ocean and Asian countries. Tom was a Cereal City Lion for more than 28 years, serving as President (1996-97 and 2011-12); Club Treasurer; Lions Tales Editor (Received award for best District 11-B1 club newsletter, Director, Guiding Lion, Region III Zone 1 Chairman and Vice District Governor. He co-chaired the Golf Outing Fundraiser, developed and maintained the club website. He received a Melvin Jones Fellowship for performance at the District Level, the Ken Lautzenheiser award for service at the club level, Cereal City Lion of the Year 2005-2006, and District 11-B1 Certificate of Achievement 2012, Certificate of Recognition for Valuable Contribution 2010, Certificate of Appreciation for Dedicated Service 2013, District Lion of the Year 2006-07, and was a currently a Lion Emeritus in the Cereal City Lions Club.

Funeral services with full military honors to celebrate Tom's life will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Cereal City Lions Club. Arrangements by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Tom may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.