Gary Morrison

From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Gary D. Morrison, age 79, Joplin, passed away on Thursday June 27, 2019, at his home surrounded by his family.

Gary was born on April 29, 1940 in West Plains, MO, the son of the late William M. Morrison and Ruby Viola (Bivins) Morrison. He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1958. He attended SMS in Springfield, MO. He married Carol Ann Exline on December 27, 1959 in Gainesville, MO, together they raised four children.

Gary began his working career at Morrison Cement Company. He then worked for the Bank of Gainesville. While in Gainesville he started the Morrison Drilling Company. In 1966 he entered fulltime Ministry for the Church of Christ in Crossville, IL. In 1969 the family moved to Derby, KS to minister the Church there. In 1979 the family moved to Joplin, where he was the minister of Fourth & Forest Church of Christ. The Church later became Mount Hope Church of Christ. He left full time ministry and worked as the marketing director for Allgeier Martin & Associates, retiring in 2006. Following retirement, he became the co-owner of Show Me Satellite, Log Homes & Wood Furnace. He also, was the voice for many local T.V. commercials and he narrated the George Washington Carver tourist video. He was a panel member of the T.V. broadcast of “What Does The Bible Say”.

Gary was very active in his community. He served as an Elder of the Church for twenty-five years. He established the Joplin Police Department Chaplains Program. He served as chaplain for Freeman Hospital. He was a member and past president of Joplin Kiwanis Club, and was a proud member of the Missouri Archeology Society.

He was an accomplished musician. He played six instruments and sang in a quartet for many years. He enjoyed hunting, building his log home, but mostly spending time with his family. Words can not describe who Gary was as a person. He was a kind, compassionate and caring man. His Church family and community were so important to him He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He inspired others to be a better version of themselves. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Treff O. Carpenter; a brother, Nolan B. Morrison; a sister, Nadine Morrison Ebrite; and his mother and father-in- law, Mattalene and Bill Exline.

Gary is survived by his wife of nearly sixty years, Carol Ann Morrison, Joplin; two sons, Eric Morrison, Searcy, AR, and Justin Morrison and wife, Lauren, Franklin, TN; two daughters, Christye Carpenter and husband Mark, Bennett, CO, and Beth Greenfield and husband Wayne, Webb City, MO; nine grandchildren, Shane, Kyle and Briann Therrien, Cliff, Alison, and Blaine Carpenter, and Alex and Farrar Morrison; three great-grandchildren, Liya, Madilyn and Ellie; and many other family members.