1932
Robert
2011
Robert Malcolm Morris
November 1, 1932 — December 1, 2011
Pianist, composer, poet and teacher Robert Malcolm Morris, 79, received his ultimate healing on Thursday night, December 1, 2011. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 7, at New Life Assembly of God Church on Friendly Road in Morehead City, with Captain Mark Czanderna of The Salvation Army and the Reverend Darlene Morris officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on December 6 at Munden Funeral Home. Interment to follow at Carteret Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Morris, a native of Atlantic, NC, was born on November 1, 1932 to Cecil Owen and Mary Connor Morris. Older siblings were Florine Morris Viverette currently of Southern Pines, NC and Dr. James Francis Morris formerly of Goldsboro, NC.
As a youth, Morris toured as piano soloist with the North Carolina Symphony for two seasons in 1945 and 1950. He later studied at The Juilliard School of Music, Yale Music School, Duke University and Tulane University. Earning two degrees in English literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1957 and 1960) he then taught at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN, Evansville College in Evansville, IN, and Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY.
From 1967 to the present Mr. Morris devoted himself to his calling as a piano teacher in Robert Morris Studio, later renamed Robert Morris Academy. For over 45 years he promoted the growth of musicianship, as well as encouraged sharper eyesight and keener hearing among young and older piano students in Carteret County.
Mr. Morris began publishing his poems in 1951 while at Yale. His first book, Hurricane and Other Poems, was published in 1956 by Old Well Press in Chapel Hill. An Idyl of Core Bank Station by Xulon Press followed in 2003. His latest volume, given out of worlds, was released in 2009 by Pleasant Word.
Beginning at the age of 10 in his native Atlantic, Mr. Morris shared his gift of music with many churches and schools throughout Carteret County. He was always willing to donate his time in concerts to benefit various causes in the County.
His lifetime love of gardening was nurtured by his mother from an early age. Mr. Morris spent hours reading, studying and cultivating the plants in his prolific garden. His specialty was camellias and azaleas behind the house, succulents and cactuses in the greenhouse, his English pleasure garden in the driveway and his Japanese bonsai and evergreen trees in the front yard.
Mr. Morris will be remembered for his deep faith and love of the Father God his creator, of Jesus Christ his Savior, and of the Holy Spirit his comforter and enabler. His love for the Jewish people prompted him on several occasions to refer to himself as "a spiritual Jew."
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 33 years, the former Sue Cuningham Clerici of Winston-Salem, NC, son Robert Owen Morris of Palm Beach, FL, daughter Mary Clare Morris of New York City, and son Andrew Connor Morris of Beaufort.
Survivors include Florine Morris Viverette of Southern Pines, NC, sister, Georgianna J. Morris, sister-in-law of Fort Myers, FL, Ann Clerici Lichtefeld, sister-in-law of Atlanta, GA, brothers-in-law John Louis Clerici of Las Vegas, NV and Louis Jerome Lichtefeld, Jr. of Atlanta, GA.
Other survivors include five paternal cousins: Martha Sue Davis Sobel of Kingsport, TN, Gloria Parker Bumpass of Roxboro, NC, Phillip Allen Morris of Atlantic, Clifton Riley Parker of Raleigh, NC, Joseph Craig Morris of Atlantic and five maternal cousins: Mary Taylor D. Bennett of Stonewall, Bonnie D. May of Nashville, Jane C. Taylor of Dover, T. R. "Buster" Connor of Peletier, and John M. Connor of Kings Mountain.
Seven surviving nieces are Mary Webb V. Bowers of Raleigh, Lee V. Jones of Garner, Brooke V. Holt of Chapel Hill, Nancy M. Turrone of Greenville, Catharine M. Turrone of Clayton, Martha M. Hodge of Wendell, Suzanne L. Markley of Atlanta, Ga.
Five surviving nephews are Christopher M. Viverette of Elizabeth City, Tripp Lichtefeld of Chattanooga, TN, Jeffrey A. Lichtefeld of Marietta, GA, Nathen J. Clerici of Vancouver, British Columbia and David L. Clerici of Denver, CO.
The family thanks Dr. Alonzo J. Davis and staff, Dr. James T. Loynes and staff, the caring staff of Carteret General Hospital, and the dedicated employees of Harborview Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army, 1700 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 or to One Mission Society, P.O. Box 1648, Monument, CO 80132 or to a charity of one's choice.
Mr. Morris, a native of Atlantic, NC, was born on November 1, 1932 to Cecil Owen and Mary Connor Morris. Older siblings were Florine Morris Viverette currently of Southern Pines, NC and Dr. James Francis Morris formerly of Goldsboro, NC.
As a youth, Morris toured as piano soloist with the North Carolina Symphony for two seasons in 1945 and 1950. He later studied at The Juilliard School of Music, Yale Music School, Duke University and Tulane University. Earning two degrees in English literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1957 and 1960) he then taught at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN, Evansville College in Evansville, IN, and Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY.
From 1967 to the present Mr. Morris devoted himself to his calling as a piano teacher in Robert Morris Studio, later renamed Robert Morris Academy. For over 45 years he promoted the growth of musicianship, as well as encouraged sharper eyesight and keener hearing among young and older piano students in Carteret County.
Mr. Morris began publishing his poems in 1951 while at Yale. His first book, Hurricane and Other Poems, was published in 1956 by Old Well Press in Chapel Hill. An Idyl of Core Bank Station by Xulon Press followed in 2003. His latest volume, given out of worlds, was released in 2009 by Pleasant Word.
Beginning at the age of 10 in his native Atlantic, Mr. Morris shared his gift of music with many churches and schools throughout Carteret County. He was always willing to donate his time in concerts to benefit various causes in the County.
His lifetime love of gardening was nurtured by his mother from an early age. Mr. Morris spent hours reading, studying and cultivating the plants in his prolific garden. His specialty was camellias and azaleas behind the house, succulents and cactuses in the greenhouse, his English pleasure garden in the driveway and his Japanese bonsai and evergreen trees in the front yard.
Mr. Morris will be remembered for his deep faith and love of the Father God his creator, of Jesus Christ his Savior, and of the Holy Spirit his comforter and enabler. His love for the Jewish people prompted him on several occasions to refer to himself as "a spiritual Jew."
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 33 years, the former Sue Cuningham Clerici of Winston-Salem, NC, son Robert Owen Morris of Palm Beach, FL, daughter Mary Clare Morris of New York City, and son Andrew Connor Morris of Beaufort.
Survivors include Florine Morris Viverette of Southern Pines, NC, sister, Georgianna J. Morris, sister-in-law of Fort Myers, FL, Ann Clerici Lichtefeld, sister-in-law of Atlanta, GA, brothers-in-law John Louis Clerici of Las Vegas, NV and Louis Jerome Lichtefeld, Jr. of Atlanta, GA.
Other survivors include five paternal cousins: Martha Sue Davis Sobel of Kingsport, TN, Gloria Parker Bumpass of Roxboro, NC, Phillip Allen Morris of Atlantic, Clifton Riley Parker of Raleigh, NC, Joseph Craig Morris of Atlantic and five maternal cousins: Mary Taylor D. Bennett of Stonewall, Bonnie D. May of Nashville, Jane C. Taylor of Dover, T. R. "Buster" Connor of Peletier, and John M. Connor of Kings Mountain.
Seven surviving nieces are Mary Webb V. Bowers of Raleigh, Lee V. Jones of Garner, Brooke V. Holt of Chapel Hill, Nancy M. Turrone of Greenville, Catharine M. Turrone of Clayton, Martha M. Hodge of Wendell, Suzanne L. Markley of Atlanta, Ga.
Five surviving nephews are Christopher M. Viverette of Elizabeth City, Tripp Lichtefeld of Chattanooga, TN, Jeffrey A. Lichtefeld of Marietta, GA, Nathen J. Clerici of Vancouver, British Columbia and David L. Clerici of Denver, CO.
The family thanks Dr. Alonzo J. Davis and staff, Dr. James T. Loynes and staff, the caring staff of Carteret General Hospital, and the dedicated employees of Harborview Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army, 1700 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 or to One Mission Society, P.O. Box 1648, Monument, CO 80132 or to a charity of one's choice.
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