Obituary of John Moses Morris

John Moses Morris, 76 of Ocala, passed away on Monday, March 25, 2024 at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. He had been fighting cancer since 2019 and succumbed to it. He was born April 1, 1947 to Homer W. Morris and Nina Fern Hamblin in Portland Oregon,

John Moses attended Southeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri then enlisted to serve in the U.S. Navy, Seabees from 1967 to 1972 which included 3 tours in Vietnam, as an equipment operator. He continued his education in Fire Science at Central Missouri State, Warrensburg, Missouri after leaving the Navy. He was a volunteer firefighter on the Blue Springs, Missouri fire department and became a full-time firefighter on the Clinton, Missouri fire department. He changed careers when he moved to West Palm Beach, Florida and became the owner operator of a pest control company. A move to Hawthorne, Florida, and a change in career when he secured a position at the University of Florida, IFAS as a Laboratory Technician in weed sciences from which he retired in 2012 after 20 years of service.

John “Moses” was an advocate for his military “brothers” and demonstrated that in the organizations he served. He was a volunteer in the Chaplin service at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville then volunteered at the VA clinic in Ocala. He was a member of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard, a lifetime member of the VFW, a member of Rolling Thunder and the American Legion as well as a member of the 42nd Royal Highlanders re-enactors and the On Top of the World Lions Club.

John “Moses” loved to fish, garden and travel. He took great care of his orchids which hung on his porch. He was first and foremost a dedicated father and grandfather. His family was most important to him. “Pop” was devoted to his grandchildren and encouraged them in any of their undertakings from Circus to dance and soccer to train rides.

John was preceded in death by his parents; Homer and Nina and his brother and sister-in-law, Larry (O. Dawn) Morris of Micanopy, Florida.

John is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Gail E. (Mitola) of Ocala, Florida; his children Pamela (Jake) Bedford of Hawthorne, Florida and Jessica Morris-Acree of Ocala, Florida, and his grandchildren; Lily A Bedford, Jackson M. Beford, Michael M. Acree and Abigail M. Acree. He is also survived by his niece, Lavina Morris Zimmerman, Carson City, NV and brother-in-law’s; Joe (Lynne) Mitola of Cocoa Beach, Florida, Dan (Dana) Mitola of Lakeland, Florida, and Paul (Betty) Mitola of Hawthorne, Florida.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services TimberRidge, 9695 SW 110th St., Ocala, FL 34481.

Family suggests that donations may be made in his name to Tunnel2Towers at Https://T2T.org Or to the American Cancer Society at Https://donate.cancer.org

Arrangements have been entrusted Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services TimberRidge, 9695 SW 110th St., Ocala, FL 34481 (352) 873-4114