Lois June Morrison

Lois June Osborn Morrison was born at home on December 21, 1931, near Wanblee, South Dakota, to Louie and Clara Osborn. She was joined by two younger brothers, Jack and David (who passed away just before his 4th birthday). When she was 5 years old, her family moved to Thorp, near Ellensburg, Washington. During World War II, when Lois was 11 years old, they moved to Port Orchard, WA, where her father worked in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

While in high school, Lois worked part-time at the Hi-way Market, a block from her family’s home. She had met Donald Morrison at church, and he came in to the store frequently just so he could see her. Lois asked him to her school’s Sadie Hawkins dance, and they began dating.

After graduating from South Kitsap High School in 1950, she was employed in the clerical department at the Bremerton Welfare Office for four years.

Lois and Don were married in November 1951, a few months earlier than initially planned, because Don had been drafted into the US Army, and typically, she could join him on base after basic training as his wife. The army did not allow this though, and sent him solo to infantry training in California then to Korea. They exchanged photos and letters over the next two years, as Don trained and fought on the front lines of the Korean conflict. Following his honorable discharge on Christmas Day, 1953, they were happily reunited and began at last to build a life together.

They welcomed three children to their family over the next few years. Don and his father were running a family gravel business, so there was not much money in the family budget, but Lois already could stretch a penny and became a wonderful cook and homemaker.

Lois was a member of First Christian Church from 1942 until her passing. She taught Sunday School for 35 years, was choir director for 12 years, and served as a Trustee for 4 years. She played the piano and sang beautifully. She served her Lord Jesus Christ for most of her life, and her love for Him showed, as she blessed her family and many, many friends.

In 1961, she took on the office and bookkeeping work for the family business, Morrison Gravel, learning the necessary tasks from her father-in-law. She single-handedly ran everything from her home office for many years. She could type rapidly on an old manual typewriter, and kept the accounting in handwritten ledgers until computers were finally put to use in the mid-80s. At that point, she relinquished her duties to her daughters-in-law. She completely retired after 30 years.

In their later years, Lois and Don had time to travel. They went to Israel; England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; Alaska; and Hawaii. After retirement, they traveled all around the United States in a fifth wheel, followed the Lewis & Clark trail, cruised to Alaska and the Panama Canal, and bought a winter home in Wickenburg, AZ. Eventually, they traveled in a Pleasure Way camper van, which was easier to maneuver. They loved to spend time in Cannon Beach, OR.

Lois continued to take care of her husband and home until at 93, she suffered a series of strokes. She then relied on her lifetime of witnessing the goodness of God to help her through that final trial. Many dear friends and family members faithfully attended and visited her through those long months of confinement.

Lois is survived by her brother, Jack Osborn (Dolores) of Tacoma, WA, daughter, Dianne (Doug) of Nampa, ID; son Ken (Charlene) of Port Orchard, WA; and son Gary (Leslie) of Wickenburg, AZ; seven

grandchildren (Joshua, Jason, Michael, Stephen, Gregory, Vanessa, and Kevin), and eight great grandchildren (Caden, EmmaLynn, Addison, Halen, Freya, John, Petra, and one yet to be born).

She shared the following poem for those precious loved ones she would one day leave behind:

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones.

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! but Jesus’ love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,

Pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth -

You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come.

Lois will be interred at Sunset Lane Cemetery in Port Orchard, WA in a private ceremony. The family would be very pleased if you would write your reflections about Lois in the guestbook below.