Franklin Morriss

Franklin D. Morriss age 91 of Fredericksburg, IA, died Monday, November 2, 2020, at the Carlisle Assisted Living Center, Carlisle, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 6, 2020, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Fredericksburg with Hugh Mackintosh presiding. Interment will follow the service in Rose Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg. Join the family and show your support on Facebook Live on the Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home Facebook page. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Franklin Dean Morriss was born August 7, 1929, in Jefferson, IA, the son of Gunther and Cuba (Coger) Morriss and grew up on farms in the Scranton and Lanesboro area. He attended country school and then went to high school in Lanesboro, where he was a member of the Class of 1948. He served in the United States Navy and served as a radio school officer from 1948 to 1952, and it was while serving his country that Franklin made the best decision of his life. In high school, his sister and Mavis Toyne were good friends, and Franklin actually dated Mavis’ sister for a time, and before you knew it, it was Franklin and Mavis who got together. Mavis flew to San Diego, and on Sept. 1, 1950, the two exchanged vows and began a marriage that lasted for almost 62 years. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy, the young couple moved back to Iowa, where they farmed and raised four kids — Pam, Larry, Gary and Sherri. Franklin’s children remember their dad as a hard worker who had a quick wit and a flair for sarcasm. One day, he felt Pam’s skirt was a little too short and complimented her on her “postage stamp.” The family farmed in the Lohrville and Rutland areas until 1969 when Franklin and Mavis purchased a farm northeast of Fredericksburg. Over the years, the family farm not only tended to its crops but also milked cows and raised hogs and chickens. Franklin, though, had a lighter side, too. He loved to square dance with Mavis, the couple were members of various card clubs and they enjoyed fishing together. They were also supportive parents when it came to their children’s school activities. In 1991, Franklin retired, and he and Mavis moved to an acreage near Plainfield, where he loved to tend to a big, bountiful garden with both his growing skills and his always-ready Miracle Gro. Although Franklin and Mavis weren’t big into traveling, they did like to camp and if George Jones was anywhere near northeast Iowa — like, say, northern Minnesota — they’d be off. Franklin also was a big fan of any team sporting the black and gold of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Mavis passed away on April 2, 2012, and losing his best friend and life partner for all those years was tough on Franklin, and quite honestly, he was ready to “meet up” with Mavis again, painting his pumpkin purple because it was his wife’s favorite color. He lived a good, long, productive life. He had four great kids. He was a light-hearted grandpa to six grandchildren and three greats. And he still had that magical “green thumb.” This past year, for example, he dried out the tomato seeds for Pam’s plants this summer, and those plants produced an abundance of tomatoes. And now he is back with Mavis, and as sad as it is for those who loved him, they are grateful that their dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and friend is reunited with the love of his life. Survivors include two sons, Larry Morriss of Elgin, IA, Gary Morriss of Forest City; two daughters, Pam (Jim) Foster of Pleasantville, IA, Sherri (Doug) Sievers of Des Moines; six grandchildren, Kyle Foster, Rylee Sievers, Tonya Blasen, Chad Morriss, Jared Morriss, Kristopher Foster; three great-grandchildren, one brother, Gene Morriss of Humeston, IA; two sisters, June Bennett of Carroll, IA, Helen Kern of Council Bluffs, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, twin great-grandchildren; two brothers, Keith and Don Morriss.