Robert D. Morris, 96 years of age, of Beatrice and former Blue Springs/Wymore resident, died Monday afternoon, January 17, 2005, at the Beatrice Community Hospital. He was born on October 12, 1908 near Liberty, Nebraska and moved to the Union Center vicinity at the age of 7. After graduation from Union Center Consolidated High School in 1928, Robert farmed and raised purebred polled Hereford cattle. In 1948, he married Jesse Ellinor Hillhouse Gade and together they had one daughter, Janet. They later separated. Bob was a member of the Blue Springs United Methodist Church in Blue Springs, Nebraska. He served on the Island Grove Township Board as Justice of the Peace for 26 years and drove a school bus for eleven years. In 1996, he sold the farm and moved to the Park Lodge in Wymore and recently moved to the Beatrice Manor. In recent years, he was called upon by many historical and cultural societies to help document their research.

Survivors include one daughter, Jan Morris of Toluca Lake, California. One grandson, Jon W. Tucker of Lincoln, Nebraska. One sister, Edith Hefner of Denver, Colorado. Many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Tena Shefferd Morris, two brothers, Wilferd and Arthur Morris, and a stepson, Ted Gade

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 10:30 A.M. at the Blue Springs United Methodist Church with Rev. Richard S. Sykes officiating. Burial will be at the Blue Springs Cemetery. A family prayer services will be held at 10:15 A.M. Thursday morning at the church. A memorial has been established to the Blue Springs United Methodist Church with the funeral home in charge. The body will lie in state at the Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice, Nebraska from 5:00 P.M. Tuesday until 9:00 P.M. Wednesday and then at the church one hour preceding the service on Thursday. A guestbook for signatures and messages of condolence is available online at www.foxfuneralhome.net. Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.