Edward P. Morris Jr., 91, of Manning, died Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at Manning Regional Hospital in Manning.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, January 7, at Community of Christ Church in Denison with burial in Manning Cemetery in Manning.
Friends may call at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 6.

Born February 6, 1920, to Anna Mae and Edward P. Morris Sr. in Camden, New Jersey, his early years were spent in the Merchantville, New Jersey, area and he entered military service in 1939.

Ed was married to Hazel Valarie Miller on November 1, 1942, at the Methodist Chapel in Spartansburg, South Carolina, while attending OCS training school.

Rising to the rank of captain during his 21-year military career. Ed was a participant in the nuclear-testing sites in Nevada during the 1950s and saw combat during the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and the Korean War as well as other strategic maneuvers.

He was a member of the 11th Airborne Paratroopers and while stationed in Colorado, received mountain-climbing and rescue training. He later applied those skills while stationed in Austria where he was also assigned duty as a ski instructor.

During his military career he received many honors and awards such as World War II Victory; Bronze Star; Good Conduct; American Defense Service; American Campaign; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign; Purple Heart; Combat Infantryman Badge with Star; United Nations Service; Korean Service; 3 Overseas Bars; Army of Occupation (Germany); National Defense Service; Korean Presidential Unit Citation; World War II Presidential Unit Citation; and the Armed Forces Reserve medal.

Upon returning from Austria, Ed was assigned to Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, where in 1957 he joined Community of Christ Church, was called and ordained to the office of Elder on September 23, 1960. Ed retired from military service in December 1960.

Shortly thereafter, Ed moved his family back to his childhood roots in the Merchantville, New Jersey, area. As a member of the Ashland Community of Christ branch, he served in many different capacities including Pastor.

In 1974, Ed’s family moved to St. Charles, Iowa, where he served as mayor of the town for a year and was a member of the Osceola Community of Christ branch. During the next 22 years, Ed ministered and served his community and his congregation, including four years as pastor.

Throughout his life he enjoyed hunting and fishing, was an avid amateur radio enthusiast, and had a beautiful tenor voice, which he shared willingly with the church, family, and friends.

In 1996, Ed made his final move to Manning to be closer to family.

Ed is survived by his four children: Theodore and his wife, Carrie; Dorothea; Edward P. III; and Wayne and his wife, Kathleen; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many loving relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Valarie; his daughter, Patricia; and his sister, Dorothea.