Albert Burr 'Al' Morris Jr.

Albert Al Burr Morris, Jr., a resident of Pendleton, died Monday, February 4, 2013, at his home in Pendleton. He was 87 years old.

Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 11th, 2013, in the Athena Cemetery, Athena, Oregon. Send condolences to the family online at www.burnsmortuary.com. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements.

Albert was born June 28, 1925, in Great Falls, Montana. He was the son of Albert B. Morris Sr. of Belt, Montana, and Alice E. Mickelson of Moore, Montana. He was raised and educated in several cities across Montana, including: Moore, Square Butte, Geraldine, Great Falls, Highwood, Carter and Fort Benton. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17. He was sent overseas in1942, and served in the Pacific Campaign in the Solomon Islands, the Russell Islands, and the Eniwetok Atoll. He received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1945. On December 11th, 1948, he married Joyce C. Tucker in Lewiston, Idaho.

Al farmed with his stepfather Emil Timmerman near Athena and Helix, Oregon in 1945. He began employment with Parker Taxi in Pendleton, where he worked from 1946 to 1948. In the summer of 1948 he went to work for the city of Athena as Athena City Police. Following that he rode his Indian motorcycle through Hells Canyon with his friend Laurence Bacus, gaining national publicity. He then went to work with Pendleton Grain Growers, Pendleton Division, where he worked for two years before being named manager of petroleum, where he worked until retirement in 1987. While employed at PGG he worked part-time for twenty years driving wheat truck and hauling general merchandise for Oregon Film Service/McBreen Trucking to Ontario and Baker City. After 39 years at PGG he retired. He then was employed at Mid Columbia Bus Company, where he worked for fifteen years driving school bus and charter bus, retiring for health reasons in 2004 at the age of 79. He continued raising horses until 2008, and he also had a llama, Daniel.

He was a past member of the Pendleton Jaycees, was a past charter member of Pendleton Exchange Club, the V.F.W. LetEr Buck Post 922, Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans, was chairman of Pendleton Oil Industry Committee, and the 10th Defense Battalion U.S.M.C..

Al is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joyce Morris; his children: Joanne Spencer, Brenda Cook and Dundas Winn, Reggie Morris and Peggy Bronson; a brother, Bill Timmermann of Helix; grandchildren: Lisa Knox, Justin Peek, Nathan Peek, Andrew Peek, Laura Peek, Anna Peek, Kama Peek, Jessica Peek, Levi Peek, Ira Draper, Brett Cook and wife Kathy, James Preston and Rose Sigo, Dionne Bronson and K.C. Picard, Bryson and Lizzy Bronson, Alex Morris and Sarah Heise-Arroyo, and Lanee Rae Morris. He loved his family very much and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.