Donald “Don” Eugene Morris

Donald "Don" Eugene Morris, 89, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away on March 2nd, 2020. He was born to parents Albert and Nona, on May 23rd, 1930 in Olathe, Kansas. He grew up in Mountain Grove, Missouri. When he was 16, they moved to Lenexa so that he could take wood working class. He graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural High School in 1948.

Don met Katie England in 1949 behind Morris Cafe in Lenexa. They were married on July 9th, 1952. Together they raised 3 daughters: Karen, Pattie, and Donna.

He served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953.

He started with the Lenexa Fire Department as a volunteer in 1948. He came on as a paid employee with the Department in 1977, as an Assistant Fire Chief. After 44 years of service, he retired from Lenexa Fire Department in 1992.

While he was a volunteer firefighter, he owned his own general contracting company.

He enjoyed fishing at Bennett Springs, pheasant hunting, cookbook writing, wood working, collecting "gonna fix it" objects, playing "air ball" with children in the family, and watching Monday Night Wrestling. For many years, he was the Santa Claus for the Fire Department and family Christmas parties. He was proud of the barbecue sauce he and Katie made. At 80 years old, he began bottling and selling the sauce at local stores. He cherished spending time with his family most of all.

Don is survived by Katie, his wife of 67 years, daughters Karen Dougan (Rick), Pattie Pfeifauf (Jerry), Donna Swihart (Gale), five grandchildren: Amanda Marsh (Jake), John Dougan (Jaclyn), Blake Swihart, Kenna Swihart, and Gerald Pfeifauf, and five great grandchildren: Colt, Mabel, and Orin Marsh, Jude and Mila Dougan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Nona.

Visitation will be Friday, March 6th from 5-8 pm at Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee. The funeral service will be Saturday, March 7th at the funeral home at 10 am. Interment at Johnson County Memorial Gardens.

Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 10100 W. 87th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66212, kchospice.org

Or

Lenexa Fire Department Benevolence Fund, 9620 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, KS 66215