Larry, 85, of Moore Haven, FL, died November 10, 2023. He was born August 8, 1938 in Warren County, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles Lowell and Mildred Lewise Morris and his ex-wife of 51 years, Janet Heim Morris.
Mr. Morris graduated from Wilkerson High School in 1956 and attended the University of Minnesota on a baseball scholarship. He tore his rotator cuff and transferred to Pan American College in Edinburg, TX on a basketball scholarship. In 1955 at Wilkerson (where his father, Charlie Morris was principal and head coach) he played on the basketball team that won the Sectional in Greenfield, IN and advanced to the Regional Finals at Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis.
Mr. Morris graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN with a doctorate in education in 1969. He was an assistant Superintendent and Superintendent at several different school systems over the years and retired as Superintendent from Alden Central Schools in 1979. He was inducted into the School Management Study Group Superintendents’ Hall of Fame in 1974. He had a dedication to children and tenaciously worked to improve the schools of this nation implementing a quality learning experience. He was truly dedicated to improving the quality of American public education.
Larry Morris never met a stranger. To say he was an extrovert was an understatement. He had a talent for kidding and playing pranks! He was an avid reader and passed his love of books and reading down to his children. It was not unusual to receive a book for Christmas that had been tested for “quality assurance.” Larry was a fanatical sports fan. He loved all sports but had a passion for his Boston Red Sox and was happy knowing they finally won a World Series in his lifetime. He would regularly attend Spring Training games and often took his grandsons to 2 or 3 games in a single day. His other love was Indiana University basketball. Anyone who knew him knew not to bother him when IU was playing. He and Bobby Knight passing in the same year seems fitting. During his time in Buffalo, NY he was a fan of the Bills and once lost his son at a ballgame who was found in the players locker room! Larry loved to play bridge and achieved the title of Grandmaster and played in countless bridge tournaments. He adored his two grandsons, taking them to Disney World (where he rode Splash Mountain with them as many as 9 times in row) and in Houston took them to Six Flags and countless Houston Astros games. He would come to Arkansas and watch his grandsons play sports from T-ball and pewee football through their high school years. Everyone who met Larry had a “Larry story” and he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Mr. Morris is survived by his daughter, Jeri Jan Mosley (Richard) of Camden, AR, his son, Randy Blair Morris of Seabrook, TX, two grandsons, Paul Richard Mosley and Kyle Austin Mosley (Alexandria) both of Camden, AR and one great-granddaughter, Savvy Elyse Mosley of Camden. He is also survived by his sister, Charlew (Jim) Beyers of Knightstown, IN, nephews and nieces, J. C. Beyers, Vanda Lynn (Mike) White, Molly Lucenda (Bob) Deaton and Lou (Meena) Beyers, great-nephews and nieces, Alec Beyers, Bentley Beyers, Anna and Ruby White, Drew Deaton, Matthew Deaton, Ben Deaton, Daniel Deaton and Shawn and Raman Beyers, a cousin (who was more like a brother), Phillip H. (Leisa) Morris, Judith Ann Biberstine (Dick), Charlene Stephens, Charlie Moore (Janet) and Lew Rita Moore, and numerous second and third cousins. He is also survived by his lifelong friend of 68 years, Rex Smith.
Graveside services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown, IN. Visitation will be Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield, IN. Erlewein is in charge of arrangements.