Jack William & Virginia Stephenson Morriss

Virginia Morriss
December 28, 1925 - December 8, 2009

Sherman- Memorial funeral services for Virginia Morriss will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, December 12 in the Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church. Rev. Lander Bethel of the church will officiate with services under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at West Hill Cemetery before the funeral. Mrs. Morriss, 83, passed away Tuesday, December 8 at The Renaissance of Sherman. 
Virginia Ethel Stephenson Morriss was born December 28, 1925 in Sherman, TX to Edgar and Viola Stephenson. She attended Sherman schools and graduated from Sherman High School and Wilson N. Jones Hospital School of Nursing. Virginia married Jack William Morriss on July 24, 1948. They were married for 56 years prior to his death in 2004. 
Virginia began her nursing career as a clinical supervisor at the school of nursing. After the nursing school closed, she continued serving Wilson N. Jones in various positions including stints as Director of Nurses, Supervisor of the Central Supply Department, Purchasing Agent for all nursing needs, and began the first inhalation therapy program at the hospital. She also served as a County School Nurse for 9 years. She retired from nursing in 1966 to founded Jack & Jen Child Care Centers, serving hundreds of children over the next 30 years. 
Virginia was active in the Altrusa Club of Sherman. She joined the service organization in 1967 and remained an active member until her death. She served as Governor of District Nine of Altrusa, which included the State of Texas from 1979-1981.
Virginia was active in city government serving 2 terms on the Sherman City Council in 1975-79 and in 1979 was elected Sherman's first woman mayor. During her time of service, Sherman was designated the ?All American City? award from the National League of Cities. 
Virginia was a member of Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church where she was a member for 50 years. She was ordained as the first woman elder and served on many Church committees. 
Virginia was honored as a distinguished Alumni of Sherman High School and lived the last years of her life at The Renaissance of Sherman where she loved all of her friends and especially her nurse, Pat Morales.
Virginia is survived by two sons, Steve Morriss and wife Katherine of Denton and Larry Morriss and wife Donneita of Sherman; five grandchildren, Stephanie Morriss of Dallas, Sterling Morriss of Washington DC, Christian Morriss and wife Janice of McKinney, Nicholas Morriss and wife Meredith of Houston, and Zachary Morriss and wife Dallas of McKinney; two great grandchildren, Remi and Riley Morriss of McKinney; and one sister, Margaret Daniels and husband James of Cedar Creek Lake, Texas. Mrs. Morriss was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sisters, Martha McAdoo and Jo'el Bonser. 
The family will receive friends after the service at Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church or Altrusa's Grayson County College Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2233, Sherman, TX 75091.