Gary D. Morrison, 79

Funeral services for Gary D. Morrison, 79, of Joplin, were held July 1, 2019, at Mount Hope Church of Christ in Webb City. Mr. Morrison died June 27 at his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born April 29, 1940, in West Plains, the son of William M. and Ruby Viola Bivins Morrison. He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1958 and then attended Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University) in Springfield.

On Dec.  27, 1959, in Gainesville, he married Carol Ann Exline.

Mr. Morrison 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, Illinois. In 1969 the family moved to Derby, Kansas, where he ministered 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. Later, he left fulltime 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 TV commercials, and he narrated the  tourist video at the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond. He was also a panel member of the TV broadcast “What Does The Bible Say?”

Mr. Morrison was very active in his community. He served as an elder of the church for 25 years. He established the Joplin Police Department Chaplains Program and served as chaplain for Freeman Hospital. He was a member and past president of the Joplin Kiwanis Club, and he was a proud member of the Missouri Archeology Society. 
He was an accomplished musician who played six instruments and sang in a quartet for many years.

He enjoyed hunting and building his log home, but mostly he loved spending time with his family. As a person, he was beyond description. He was a kind, compassionate and caring man. His church family and community were very important to him. He was also a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He inspired others to become better versions of themselves. He will be greatly missed. 

He is survived by Carol Ann of Joplin, his wife of nearly 60 years; two sons, Eric Morrison of Searcy, Arkansas, and Justin Morrison and wife Lauren of Franklin, Tennessee; two daughters, Christye Carpenter and husband Mark of Bennett, Colorado, and Beth Greenfield and husband Wayne of Webb City; 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.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 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.

Burial was in Mount Hope Cemegtery in Webb City. 

Arrangements by Mason-Woodward Mortuary and Crematory, Joplin.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423