Donald Lee Morris

Reverend Donald Lee Morris was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana on October 8, 1949. On September 20, 2025, he peacefully left this earth to be reunited with his Heavenly Father. Don was raised by his loving parents, Alma and Henry Floyd Morris, alongside his brother Tom Morris. At the age of 20, Don enlisted in the Navy and went on to serve 22 years with the first half of his career as an Aviation Repairables Management Specialist and finished serving as a Collateral Duty Career Information Coordinator. He was honorably discharged on February 29, 1992 with his highest rank as Senior Chief Petty Officer. Throughout his tenure, he was awarded for his steadfast dedication to his country by earning Unit Navy Commendation, four Meritorious Unit Commendations, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, four Good Conduct Awards, two National Defense Service Medals, three Navy “E” Awards, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Following his time in the Navy, Don studied to obtain a Doctoral of Theology from St. Lawrence Episcopal Church in Southlake, Texas and earned the title of Reverend Donald Lee Morris. After retiring from military service, Don went on to meet the love of his life, Gladys Gail Rogers-Morris. On January 1, 1995, the two were married in a double wedding (with Gail’s sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and John Biggs) in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel. Instead of your traditional wedding attire, the newlyweds sported matching t-shirts representing their favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys. This began Don and Gail’s long-standing tradition, which Don’s family will always remember fondly, of wearing matching shirts wherever they went. Don and Gail loved traveling the world together and spent weeks at a time flying, cruising, or hauling their fifth wheel around to different Thousand Trails and KOA campgrounds. Don’s family will forever cherish the memories of summers on the boat, Fourth of July fireworks over Joe Pool Lake, frequent visits to Sam’s Pizza (always with an order of garlic knots and a crisp, ice-cold Pepsi), and cross-country trips with his grandchildren to some of the country’s most beautiful state parks. Don was known for his homemade french fries and blue-ribbon brisket. Above all, Don loved to make people laugh and will be sincerely missed by his friends and family. Don is preceded in death by his mother, Alma Morris and father, Henry Floyd Morris. Don is survived by his wife, Gladys Gail Rogers-Morris; his son, Steven Morris and wife, Jennifer Morris; his step-daughter, Susan Connor and husband, Damon Connor; his grandchildren, Shelby Hall and husband, Derek Burch, Taylor Keville and husband, Dylan, Holly Duong and husband, Stephen, Asher Morris, and Samantha Morris; his great-children, Lyla Burch, Harper Burch, Brooks Keville, and Silver Duong. The family will receive friends from 10:00am to 11:00am on Monday, October 6, 2025 at Byrum Funeral Home in Lancaster, Texas. A celebration of Don’s life will be at 11:00am on Monday, October 6, 2025 also at Byrum Funeral Home. Navy Honors will be rendered at graveside at 1:00pm Monday at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas following the service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Leukemia Foundation or St. Lawrence Episcopal Church in Southlake, Texas.

Tributes

Donald Lee Morris

October 8, 1949 - September 20, 2025