Shirley Darlene Haase was born to Willis and Thelma Haase on March 16, 1944, in Madeira, California. She was the second child and daughter. Her older sister was named Patsy. The Haases eventually settled in the small northern California town of Olivehurst, when Shirley was a young girl. Soon, a third daughter, Peggy, was added to the family. Shirley attended and graduated from Marysville High School, in Marysville, California, in 1962.

In 1963, Shirley met the love of her life, Donald Clarence Morris. They married on January 11, 1964. He was in the United States Air Force, stationed at Beale AFB. Together, they moved their family, following his duty stations, to: Olivehurst, California (Beale, AFB); Tucson, Arizona (Davis-Monthan AFB); Honolulu, Hawaii (Wheeler, AFB); and Tillamook, Oregon (Mount Hebo Air Force Station). After Don retired from the Air Force, in 1975, they moved their family back to the Marysville area of California, settling in a home in Linda in 1977. Their family grew at each duty station: Becky and Donnie were born in Olivehurst, Rachel in Tucson, Keith in Honolulu, Aaron and Michael in Tillamook; and finally, Jared was added to the family at his birth at Travis, AFB.

As the mother of seven children (five of them, boys!), Shirley had her hands full. She was more than up to the challenge. Shirley’s home was one of chores, love, helping and happiness (and her sons’ yelling, argueing and fighting amongst themselves). Her home was one that always smelled of good, home-cooked meals and freshly baked sourdough bread. Shirley could have been the head chef at any restaurant; she could cook and prepare nearly anything and ensure it was always good tasting. She was a master seamstress and made sure her children always had good clothes. With her sewing machine and serger, she made wedding dresses, prom dresses, skirts, pants, shirts, blouses, jackets, coats and so much more. Shirley loved to do crafts and she made things of joy and wonder with her glue gun, talent, patience, and love. She especially liked to make jewelry, broaches (sparkly), beaded and be-jeweled Christmas dresses for her daughters and daughters-in-law; and similar items.

Shirley loved music. Although she didn’t play any instruments, she loved to listen to Elvis, Patsy Kline, Roy Orbison, and Mario Lanza. This love of music was passed to her children. She was known to enthusiastically sing along, loudly, any time, all of the time. She made her children go Christmas caroling for many, many years; to bring Christmas cheer to others. These caroling expeditions always included gifts from Shirley’s kitchen: homemade bread, cookies, fudge, divinity; and one year, the gift was home-made candy. Shirley had a near eidetic memory. She was unbeaten in Trivial Pursuit and could remember the slightest detail in not only the categories of a game, but in the lives of her sister, parents, and children. Shirley and Don joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the mid-1960s. Their decision to join this Church, altered for the better, the course of theirs and their family’s lives for generations to come. Shirley and Don were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on March 22, 1969.

In addition to being a wife and mother, Shirley served in her Church in many capacities and responsibilities. She taught her children to be, among so many things, respectful, honest, friendly, god-fearing, dependable, to have empathy for others, to always do their best, to give the benefit of the doubt, cultivate integrity, stand by your given word, to be clean in all aspects of their lives, and to always be working. She saw her children and grandchildren serve as missionaries in Peru (x2), South Korea, Kentucky, Costa Rica, Houston, Kansas, Spain, Argentina (x2) and the Philippines; more are yet to come.

Shirley loved her family, and as a child, she was surrounded by a very large and extensive extended family. Throughout her life, she loved to tell her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren about her family and this developed into a passion for her family history. Shirley loved to read and passed this love of the written word to many of her children. She was an enthusiastic fan of science fiction.

Shirley was preceded in death by her father, mother, and sister, Patsy. She is survived by her sister, Peggy; her spouse of nearly 57 years, Donald Morris; all seven of her children: Becky (Alan) Adams, Donnie (Kara) Morris, Rachel (Paul) Benincosa, Keith (Kerri) Morris, Aaron Morris, Michael (Jackie) Morris and Jared Morris; 21 grandchildren, and three, soon to be four, great-grandchildren.

Daughter, sister, woman, wife, mother, grandmother, chef, seamstress, supporter, leader, teacher, friend, matriarch . . . Shirley Morris was many things, to many different people, and she excelled no matter the hat she was wearing. Mom, we love you more than words can express. Our grief is nigh inconsolable and despite our pain, our hearts are comforted to know that we will see you again. Like our love for you, families are forever.

Visitation for family and friends, and funeral service, will be Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Walker Funeral Home, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660. Visitation from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Funeral will be live-streamed on You Tube; check back here Saturday morning between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. for link.

Interment will be at Spanish Fork City Cemetery.