Joel R Morris

Joel R. Morris, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many, passed away at home on August 20, 2024.

Joel was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, to Karl and Hazel Morris. Joel was the middle of 5 children in a very happy, active and loving family. He grew up in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and was a 1957 graduate of Phillipsburg High School. He was a talented athlete who loved baseball and basketball, playing varsity basketball at P’Burg High and JV at Calvin College in Michigan.

After earning a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College, Joel taught junior high school in Chicago before joining the Air Force. While he was in navigator school at Connally AFB in Waco, Texas he met Sandra Doughty, the love of his life, and they married in 1966. Joel and Sandy lived in Okinawa, Japan while Joel was a navigator on a C-130 transport plane during the Vietnam war.

After returning to the stateside, Joel was a math teacher for 38 years at Lincoln and W.T. White high schools in Dallas, and later at Brookhaven College.

He was a proud resident of Farmers Branch, his kid’s softball and soccer coach, and deacon at First Baptist Church Carrollton, later attending Northwest Bible Church. Joel spent his retirement in Plano where he and Sandra were members of Hunters Glen Baptist Church, where they were involved in Sunday school and enjoyed volunteering together for many years teaching in the ESL program.

Their biggest delight was in watching their 3 grandchildren grow up and cheering them on at every sporting event and activity they were involved in.

Joel was a caring man, always had a kind word to say and made a point to make others feel welcome. While we will miss him dearly, his impact and legacy will carry on to his friends and family.

Joel is survived by his wife, Sandra; son Richie Morris and his wife Sarah and daughter Karla Morris; grandchildren, Patrick, Katherine and Natalie Morris; brothers Bill Morris and his wife Madeline and David Morris and his wife Charlotte; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family who lovingly know him as “Pop.”

Joel had a strong faith that guided him daily, and his family rests well knowing he is with our Father in heaven. He lived out God’s call on our lives to love others (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) whether it was his bride, his family, his friends, or someone he’d just met.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Hunters Glen Baptist Church, 4001 Custer Road, Plano Texas 75023.

In leu of flowers, donations may be made to the ESL Program of Hunters Glen Baptist Church (by check/indicate ESL program), or you can give in memory of Joel to Calvin University, his alma matter in Grand Rapids Michigan at https://give.calvin.edu/campaign/582747/donate