Steven Lee Morris, age 72, died August 13, 2023, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center following a short illness. He was born August 23, 1950, in Bethesda Maryland to Ray and Violet Boehm Morris. He married Linda M. Shultz on July 8, 1978, in Hutchinson.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard Morris, brothers-in-law Don Meier and Ed Shultz, brother- and sister-in-law Bruce and Janice Shultz, and infant son Samuel Andrew Morris.
Steve is survived by his wife Linda and former foster daughter, Briana Gamblain-Weber, of the home. He is also survived by his brothers James (Jimmy) of Washington, D.C., and David (Dave). Other survivors include sister-in-law Wanda Morris Blevins of Culpeper, VA, sisters-in-law Theda Shultz and Marilyn Meier of Arlington, brother- and sister-in-law Ray and Evelyn Shultz of Randolph, KS, numerous nephews and nieces, cats Frankie and Pepper and his special companion, “nurse cat” Snowflake.
After graduation from Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge, VA, Steve began working for Dart Drug (81 stores in the metro D.C. area). A co-worker invited him to attend Marumsco Baptist Church, and Steve heard the Gospel for the first time: that Jesus Christ took our sin debt to the cross and paid the penalty of death, that He was buried, and that He arose after three days! Steve heard that he must be born again (John 3:7) by personally asking the Lord to forgive and save him. Steve had completed Confirmation classes, but realized that the waters of baptism can never cleanse the heart; only the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can wash away sin. Steve gladly received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” Romans 10:13. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” Titus 3:5.
Steve had a natural talent for drawing and Pastor Alec Bledsoe encouraged him to study art at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. Steve attended for two years. It was there that he met and fell in love with his wife Linda. After their marriage, the Morrises lived in Woodbridge for a year and Steve continued to work for Dart Drug.
Steve and Linda moved to Kansas in 1979, and Steve worked for Collins Bus as wheelchair lift assembler, Walmart as layaway associate, and Durham School Services as bus driver. Steve was an enthusiastic league bowler with a 220 average. Steve enjoyed watching football on TV. It didn’t matter to him who was playing, as long as the game was competitive. After retirement, Steve wrote and self-published (Amazon) two novels: Memories and Bad Men United – Déjà vu.
In the spring of 2002, Steve and Linda attended a revival service at Riverside Baptist Church, and Steve rededicated his life to the Lord. On May 12, 2002, Steve and Linda transferred their church membership to Riverside Baptist. Steve was later elected as Deacon. He also began representing the church in nursing home chapels. At one time, Steve preached in five different facilities. Steve encouraged the church to buy a bus with a wheelchair lift so he could pick up residents for the Sunday evening service. Because the residents had to miss supper to go to church, Steve would always stop at a fast-food restaurant and treat them to a meal before taking them back to the facility.
Steve’s health began to decline following a bout with sepsis in 2021. Then in January 2022 he fell in the home and after spending almost a month in a hospital in Wichita, remained bedfast. Steve’s hospital bed in the dining nook became control central of the home. Using his laptop computer, he continued to create bulletins and word search puzzles for the nursing home ministry. He managed the family finances and ordered hard-to-find supplies online. Steve was Linda’s go-to tech when she encountered problems with the desk computer, printer, or Wi-Fi router, and he was the one who reminded her to install computer updates. Needless to say, he also retained control of the TV remote.
Every evening at 9:30 Steve would ask Linda and Bri to come to family altar time. They took turns choosing a song to sing, then they read a chapter in the Bible and prayed together.
Steve loved his pastor Richard Haley dearly, along with church family. He very much appreciated their prayers, love, and support. We rejoice with Steve in his new home, complete with healthy body and sin-free mind.
The family thanks Enhabit Home Health and Enhabit Hospice for their wonderful care of Steve during the last year. What a blessing the Enhabit therapists, nurses, and other staff brought to our home! The family also thanks the staff of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for the compassionate care that Steve and they received during the last week of his earthly life.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 25, 2023, at Riverside Baptist Church, 1100 W. 21st Ave, Hutchinson, KS, with Pastor Richard Haley officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, KS. Memorials may be given to the Riverside Baptist Church- Academy Fund and can be sent in care of Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave. Hutchinson, KS 67502.