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IN MEMORIAM, ISAIAH MORRIS, December 5, 1930 – October  13, 2009

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Memorial Service for Isaiah Morris

Isaiah celebrated as a devoted follower of his faith who danced through life

Published October 19, 2009

By Larry Price, Editor NKUMCRI.COM

Family and friends of Isaiah Morris mourned his death and celebrated his life in a memorial service at North Kingstown United Methodist Church on Monday October 19, 2009.

In her homily (homily below on this page), The Rev. Lori Eldredge eulogized Isaiah as a man of strong faith, who was devoted to God every day. She recounted how he was born the son of a Baptist preacher in Pearl River, Louisiana in December 1930 and had dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. He eventually enlisted in the Navy where he served 20 years as a cook, once creating a 1,000 lbs cake in the shape of an aircraft carrier, a project much like “stacking bricks.” Isaiah had countless recipes on how to feed hundreds of people at a time and he passed on his cooking skills to his family. After retiring from the Navy, Isaiah served as food services manager at the University of Rhode Island.

Away at sea for months at a time during his Navy career, including a trip to Antarctica, Isaiah was forced to miss many special family occasions, but Pastor Lori said he was still a devoted father. The family told her there were always many presents and when he was home, he served as a baseball coach for his son and watched a daughter dance.

Rev. Eldredge credited Isaiah as an advocate for bringing the first female minister to our church when The Rev. Beverly Stenmark was presented to the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee on which Isaiah served in 1997. Pastor Lori also reminded the gathering that Isaiah loved to dance and was once elected king of a prom held at the local seniors’ center. Reading a revised version of Mary Stevenson’s famous Footprints in the Sand poem, Lori said in Isaiah’s life there were times when both the footprints of Jesus and Isaiah zig-zagged, and the Lord would explain, “Isaiah, it was then we danced together.”

Isaiah’s love for dancing was echoed by members of the church who rose to witness to his life. Helene Jannarelli characterized Isaiah as a gentleman with “a smile on his face and dance on his feet.” Retired minister Richard Garland, a member of our church, said Isaiah greeted everyone with joy and proclaimed: “I’m sure when Isaiah went to heaven, St. Peter gave him ‘two thumbs up,’”—referencing Isaiah’s patented handshake and greeting: Two thumbs up, and pinkies down. Shake it all up all over town.

The memorial service included scripture readings from Isaiah 40:28-31; Micah 6:6-8; selected readings from Romans 8; Gospel readings from John 14:1-4, 18-19 and 25-27. Hymns selected for the service were Blessed Assurance; the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save; It Is Well with My Soul.

Following the service, Isaiah Morris was laid to rest at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter with full military honors. A reception for family and friends to share memories followed back at the church. 

Pastor's Homily for Isaiah Morris

By The Rev Lori Eldredge - October 19, 2009

Isaiah Morris, December 5, 1930 – October  13, 2009

Micah 6: 6-8

‘With what shall I come before the Lord,
   and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,
   with calves a year old?
⁷Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
   with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’
⁸He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God?

What does the Lord require of you?   To love kindness, and do justice, and walk humbly with your God.    If God needed a contemporary standard by which to exemplify this verse it would be Isaiah Morris.  

Isaiah loved God.   He worshipped and gave praise to God, and in his awe and love of God found the best in life.

Isaiah was born in December of 1930 in Pearl River near Slidell, Louisiana, the son of a Baptist preacher. He grew up with his sisters Wilhelmina and Margaret; and his brothers of the late Felton, James, and Leslie.  There was all kinds of family fun mischief but growing up, he loved to play baseball.  And he was good at it.   He hoped to make a career of it, but at 19 left school to help support his mother and family. 

He worked at a number of jobs helping out, until he was about to be drafted into the army.   With two brothers in the army and one in the navy, and Korea winding As Korea was winding down Isaiah took what he considered the “safer” route,  he joined the navy.   In the 50’s he didn’t have many choices as he enlisted, but one choice was to be a chef, a cook, and Isaiah poured his heart into it, making a career out of it.  He learned everything he could and he excelled. Recipes abound  on how to feed a hundred or more and legendary is the 1000 pound cake shaped like an aircraft carrier. 

In 1958, Isaiah met Ruth Elma “Thelma” on the train as he was returning to Louisiana on one of his leaves.  They married and they began a family.  Isaiah was the very proud father of Adriene, Kevin, and Dannielle.   Look at any of the family pictures you see the pride in his eyes.

A career in the military, and it is no different for the Navy, involves moving families from place to place every few years.  Isaiah wanted stability for his family. He wanted his wife, his daughters and son to have a solid community surrounding them, a church , a neighborhood they could call their own. A home where they would have memories.  In order to provide this stability he would leave - he volunteered for sea duty, 6 months at a time.   One of those trips was to the Antarctic.   Their dad may not have been home at Christmas or for the birthdays, but there were lots of gifts to make up for it and quality time with their dad when he was home.  Isaiah coached Kevin in Little League, there were rides on the lawn mower, and there was church together.   Adriene, Kevin, and Dannielle – you each had your own cheerleader.  Your dad loving you, encouraging you, and doing everything he could to provide you with the best life could offer.  Some were tangible but that which is most important was the love, security, a strong faith and the sure and certain knowledge of right and wrong.

These same values he passed on to his grandchildren too.  He was so proud of each one of you – Arianne,  Watching Gabrielle dance, his little shadow;  Kameu seeing you at college, Christian, and Brianne.

After the military he stayed in this area and became a manager and administrator at URI.   I can only imagine the number of lives he has touched and has encouraged and offered hope to.

There were a few other intangibles, too.  He had a wonderful spirit, a warm smile, and a generous heart.  He had a strong sense of justice.  He served the church a number of ways, serving on SPRC and advocated  for the churches first woman pastor when Beverly came.  With two strong daughters, he could see no reason why a woman couldn’t serve as pastor.  For this I am thankful.

Isaiah  loved to dance.   So many people have commented on how Isaiah would dance with all the ladies at the senior center.  The women would line up to dance with him.  He was a gentle man and a gentleman, a prince among men, making sure no one was left out.  Maybe I should have said King….He And Isaiah loved to have fun!   was voted King of the Senior Prom a few years ago.   Any opportunity to get up and dance, Isaiah was there. 

When Isaiah started failing in memory, Danielle and Krista and Adriene started searching out care facilities, finally choosing Atria.  Dannielle said she used to talk to her dad by phone all the time, but when he moved there she could never get a hold of him. Isaiah may have been in a care facility, but that didn’t mean he was going to slow down. He was never in his room.  If he was going to watch a baseball game, then it was in the lounge with friends.   And if the boys were going out, he was right there with them.  There was lunch out once a month at Hooters.

Isaiah loved to have fun.    Kevin, the time you spent with him there meant so much to him. Transitions are difficult at best and you helped make the transition there so much easier.

Before I conclude I would like to ask members of the family if any of you would like to say a word in memory and honor of your father, and grandfather.  

I would invite you to continue sharing your stories.  In doing so you will keep Isaiah’s spirit alive and with you. 

Of all the things we can say with certainty about Isaiah is that he was a man of God and God’s own choosing.  On Tuesday when we received news that Isaiah had died I received an email with a story … a poem called Footprints, you know the poem.  This is the Revised version.   I think it speaks of Isaiah’s life. I’d like to share it with you.

Imagine you, imagine Isaiah,  and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.  For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. 

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking as true friends! 

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. 

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.. 

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change.  The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. 

Eventually they disappear altogether. There is  only one set of footprints. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place.  Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand.  A variable mess of prints.  

You are amazed and shocked.  Your dream ends. Now you pray:  'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits.. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'

'That is correct.' 

'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely..' 

'Very good.. You have understood everything so far..'  When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way..' 

'Precisely.' 

'So, Lord, was there a regression or something ? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.

'Didn't you know, Isaiah? It was then that we danced!' 

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Isaiah is now dancing with the Lord.  

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Isaiah Morris, 78, Devoted Father and Christian, Enters God's Heavenly Kingdom on Tuesday October 13th

Calling hours, Sunday October 18, from 3-6 PM at Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home, 825 Boston Neck Road, North Kingstown, RI. For more information and guestbook, click here (Fagan-Quinn website). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association of RI, 245 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02906 will be appreciated.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service Monday October 19, 2009, North Kingstown UMC, 450 Boston Neck Road, at 10 AM. Burial with full military honors will follow at Veterans' Cemetery in Exeter. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon reception at the church following the services at the cemetery. Driving Directions to the church

HIGHLIGHTS OF ISAIAH'S LIFE

Born in Pearl River, Louisiana

Son of late Lue James and Clara Morris, husband of the late Ruth (Nelson) Morris

22-year veteran of the US Navy who served in the Vietnam War.

Manager and administrator for URI Dining Services for 20 years before retiring.

Three children, Adriene Butcher of East Providence, Kevin Morris of Parkland, FL and Dannielle Price of Tallapoosa, GA; two sisters, Wilhelmina Mack and Margaret Russell, both of Slidell, LA; and five grandchildren. Brother of the late Felton, James and Leslie Morris. Isaiah was 78.

TRIBUTES

Remembering Isaiah: For Isaiah Morris, Life Was Always A "Thumbs Up" 

By Larry Price

Published October 13, 2009

Isaiah Morris was always upbeat, cheerful, friendly and one dapper dresser. On the hottest of days, he would be at Sunday worship in suit and tie and you never saw him sweat. He believed coming to church was special and the tie and suit was part of the respect he wanted to show for His Lord. When you asked him, “How are you doing?” he would always reply, “I’m great.” He never complained.

He was a cook in the military and in younger days was the lead chef at church dinners. I remember his tasty ham and beans and other delicious dishes. Recently, Isaiah contributed seven of his recipes to the new church cookbook.

Isaiah was away for much of this past summer, visiting family and sadly we never got to see him again before he passed away on Tuesday October 13th. Paula Martasian used to pick Isaiah up on many Sundays to bring him to worship and became a good friend to him. She noted in his passing that he had style, kindness, and always a positive outlook on life. What I remember best about Isaiah was his handshake. He taught many of us an elaborate series of gestures leading to the handshake and ending with a "thumbs up." I never could quite get it down properly; but he would patiently lead me through it each time, and then he would offer that patented smile—friendly, generous and contagious, always resulting in laughter.

We have all lost something special in Isaiah and like his Biblical namesake, Isaiah Morris was a man of steadfast devotion to His Lord.    

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Memories of Isaiah from our church family

We will greatly Miss Isaiah. 

He always had a smile on his face every time I walked in to sit down for the church Service.  It always said to me, "glad to see you make it in.  Never Lose your Faith," and maybe in a way "glad to see the Younger Generation Show up without being told to get up and Dressed and go/come to Church".  --Betsy Bailey & family, October 13, 2009

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Isaiah always greeted me with smile and a positive comment. Coming to worship on Sunday was a top commitment for Isaiah. I remember one Sunday quite a few years ago when he arrived a little bit later than usual. He told me that when he went to leave for church he discovered that his car had a flat tire. He pushed the car out of the way and drove his wife's car to church that morning. I made a comment to the effect that he would be changing a tire that afternoon. Isaiah quickly informed me that it was the Lord's day and he didn't work on the Lord's day. Changing the tire would wait until Monday morning. He got me thinking about the many things that most of us do on Sunday's. I learned a valuable lesson from Isaiah that day and have thought about it often since then.

It was a gift to know Isaiah, always a gentleman, always a smile, a true man of God. My prayers are with his family, congregation and friends.
Blessings,
Beverly Stenmark, October 13, 2009

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