Gene O Morris

We are sad to report that Gene O. Morris passed on July 21, 2019 at the age of 80. He was born at home on November 7, 1938 near Butler, Missouri, to Lloyd and Mary (Peters) Morris. He was the 2nd of four boys. He was born Lloyd Gene Morris, but was nick-named Gene O. in college and the name stayed with him through his career. He was raised on the family farm near Nevada, Missouri. He attended Nevada High School where he lettered in all sports. He was also active in journalism. In high school, Gene worked at a grocery store and at a counter diner. He graduated from Springfield State University in Springfield, Missouri and majored in journalism. His first job offer out of college came from Allen Strunk and Gene started working as a reporter for the McCook Daily Gazette in 1961. Gene had two daughters, Marita and Michelle, born in McCook. Gene married the love of his life, Barbara Sutton, on March 20, 1981, to this union he expanded his family to include, Debra and Rodney. Gene worked in journalism for over 50 years. Gene and Barbara bought and ran the Benkelman Post in Benkelman, Nebraska for years before returning to McCook, where Gene became the Publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette. Gene won numerous journalism awards including Editor of the Year and others, which culminated by receiving the Nebraska Press Association Lifetime Achievement Award for his 50 years of service to Nebraska journalism. Gene was a member of the Nebraska Press Association and held several positions with them through the years. Gene authored and published several books on the history of McCook and Southwest Nebraska with the help of his wife, Barbara. Gene had a deep love of McCook and rural Nebraska. He was active in several organizations working to honor and preserve McCook. Gene loved human interest stories and always tried to get as many peoples names in the paper as possible. Genes favorite activities were golf, Tuesday night card games with his friends, playing liver pool rummy with his family, and going to estate sales and auctions with Barbara. He was an avid and devoted Nebraska Husker football fan. Gene is survived by his wife, Barbara Morris, of McCook; one brother, Mike Morris and his wife, Brenda Morris, of Salem, Indiana; his children, Marita Morris of Fort Worth, Texas; Michelle Spieker and her husband, Thomas Spieker, of Dana Point, California; Debra Adair and her husband Tilman Adair, of Littleton, Colorado; and Rodney Long of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Grandchildren: Andrew Whetstone, of Lakewood, Colorado; Michelle Whetstone and Christa Whetstone, both of Chicago, Illinois; Ella Spieker and Kai Spieker, both of Dana Point, California; Gracelyn Adair of Littleton, Colorado. Great-grandchildren: Ethan Whetstone, of Norman, Oklahoma; and Zylus Johnson of Chicago. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials can be given in Genes name to the Nebraska Press Association. Visitation will be held Friday, July 26th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel, 607 Norris Avenue, McCook. Funeral Services for Gene O. Morris will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, July 27th at the McCook Christian Church at 507 West B Street, McCook, NE 69001. Lovingly officiated by Reverend Clark Bates and open to all who wish to attend. Please join us to remember his life. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date. Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook, NE entrusted with arrangements. Visitation Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel Friday, July 26, 2019 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 607 Norris Avenue McCook, Nebraska 69001 Funeral Service McCook Christian Church Saturday, July 27, 2019 10:00 AM 507 West B Street McCook, Nebraska 69001