Charles Joseph (Joe) Morris

Charles Joseph (Joe) Morris Sr., 83, of Surprise, Arizona, passed away on March 02, 2022, after a difficult battle with cancer. He died at home with his wife and soulmate of 67 years by his side and his three children, grandchildren and great grandchildren surrounding him. Joe, was born on September 18,1938 to John and Ruby Morris in Louisville, KY. He was their youngest and sixth son in a family of five brothers and six sisters. Joe’s childhood was one marked by a loving Christian upbringing. His mother was a homemaker and his father worked as a tool and die machinist in Prattville, Alabama. In August 1955, Joe married Frances Marlene Wheeler. And the following year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a non-rate airman where he would excel in an exceptional career spanning thirty years and where he obtained every enlisted rank from E-1 airman to E-9 master chief, and every warrant officer rank from WO1 to WO4. Joe ultimately achieved the rank of Lt. Commander in 1982. He retired from the Navy in 1984 as the Commanding Officer at the Naval Reserve Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Joe loved all aspects of his naval career from an aircrewman chasing hurricanes with the Hurricane Hunters out of Puerto Rico to controlling aircraft off the USS Kittyhawk during the Vietnam War to managing aviation schools in Millington, TN, to managing law enforcement at NAS Lemoore, CA to commanding the naval reserve unit in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1985, Joe embarked on a civilian career in the nuclear power industry where he managed labor augmentation services and contracts for Arizona Public Service at Palo Verde Nuclear Power Station until retiring in 2002. Joe spent his leisure years pursuing his passion for golfing, watching Alabama football (ROLL TIDE!) and enjoying his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Left to cherish his memory is his wife Marlene, his son Charles Jr. (Virginia), his two daughters Kay and Elaine; his four grandchildren, Jennifer (Steven) Storey, Charles (Argel) Morris III, Heather (Richard) Howard, James (Victoria) Morris; his three great grandchildren, Emily Mionske, Sara Mionske, Layla Castaneda and her dad and close friend, Luis; his brother in-law David (Jaki) Wheeler, his sister Judy (Bobby) McCord, and his brother, Albert (Mary) Morris and his extended family members and close friends. He was much loved and will be dearly missed. Fair winds and following seas, Sailor. Go Bama, Roll Tide! A date for his celebration of life is not set at this time but if you’d like to express your condolences, please consider a donation in his name to one of his favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, American Diabetes Association or the Salvation Army.