Lavonia Morris

Esther Lavonia (Waye) Morris passed away Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Lavonia was born October 21, 1935, in Ripley, Oklahoma and attended the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur, Oklahoma, graduating in 1956. She met J.C. Morris Sr at a newspaper printer before marrying him in Shamrock, Texas on October 15, 1956.  She cared for her family as J.C. worked various farms within the Texas panhandle, before moving to Frederick, Oklahoma in 1968. While living there, Lavonia worked at the Central Leather Goods company before moving to Iowa Park, Texas in 1981.  She worked at Cryovac for many years, retiring in 1996. She then returned back to Frederick to help care for J.C. in his later years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Morris Sr (1998), her parents, Claude Lee Waye (1953)  and Garnett Esther Phillips Waye Shaw (1974), her sister, Waneta Beatrice Waye (1927), and brothers, Sherman Leotus “Jack” Waye (2005) and Cecil Leon Waye (1997).

She is survived by her sister, E. Janece McKinzie of Frederick, four children:  sons, J.C. Morris Sr of Frederick, Jimmy N. Morris and wife Patricia of Muldrow, Rudy D. Morris and wife Susan of Fort Pierce, Florida, and daughter, Shari K. Morris Pickell and husband Matthew of Greenville, Texas. She had eight grandchildren: Bobbie Jo Mendez, Allen M. Patrick, Dallas V. Morris, Helen C. Morris, Richard M. Morris, Jared M. Pickell, Kaitlyn D. Pickell, and Austin W. Pickell.  She had 4 great grandchildren, Raymond Martinez, Whitney Martinez, Mercedes Martinez and Gabrielle Gonzalez and 6 great-great grandchildren.

Orr Gray Gish Funeral Home 

111 N. 11th Street

Frederick,  OK 73542

"Service Beyond Expectation"

SINCE 1905