Lenneau "Lenn" "Catfish" Morris, 81, of Bedford, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, at home. He was born on Thursday, June 16, 1927, in Fair Bluff, N.C., a son of the late Art Morris and Ethel Lucille Henison Morris. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Polly Platt and Hazel Stevens and two brothers, Edward Morris and Houston Morris. He was a former member of Salem United Methodist Church where he served many years as president of the Men's Club Fellowship. He loved being a greeter on Sunday mornings and also organized singspiration benefits for those in need. He was also involved in the Discover God's Call Retreat for 10 years. He later joined Brookhill Wesleyan Church. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and was especially fond of catfishing with his cane pole and homemade boats. He won the 32nd annual Cave Springs Optimist Club Tournament by catching a 32.8 pound catfish. He used half of the money to send young people to the Discover God's Call Retreat. Lenn served his country by joining the United States Navy when he was only 17 years old during World War II. He later joined the United States Air Force and served during the Korean Conflict. He loved playing baseball. He pitched three no hitters, the first two coming while he was in the Navy pitching for the Kanshoe Air Station team in Honolulu, Hawaii. After his service in the Air Force, he continued playing for the minor leagues. He loved to garden vegetables, especially cantaloupes, which he enjoyed growing and sharing with family and friends. Surviving is his wife, Janet DeWitt; two daughters, Jean Morris Jennings (Charlie) and Cindy Morris Mays, both of Concord; two stepsons, Terry Brooks (Wanda), of Lynchburg, and Steve Brooks (Susan), of Bedford; three stepdaughters, Vivian Brooks Wilkerson (Jimmy), Lynchburg, Karyn Brooks Rutosky (Mario), of Bedford, Jill Brooks Busch (Billy), of Forest; two sisters, Eloise Morris Stevens, of Blythwood, S.C., and Josephine (Tiny) Morris Bullard, of Fair Bluff, N.C.; five grandchildren, Bonnie Jennings Mohr, Sheila Jennings Abbott, Lisa Mays Baldwin (Larry), Donnie Mays (Christy), Holly Mays Marcus (Tommy); eight greatgrandchildren; five stepgreatgrandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and friends; 10 stepgrandchildren, Jessica Brooks Richmond (Larry), Laura Brooks Dawson (Jake), Jerod Brooks, Monica Wilkerson, Joel Wilkerson, Carly Brooks, Kaitlyn Brooks, Aron Busch, Amanda Busch, Bille Jo Busch Davis (Josh). The family requests those wishing to make memorials, to consider making memorials to Gideons International, Bedford County Camp, P.O. Box 791, Bedford, Va. 24523. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Updike Funeral Chapel, Bedford, with the Rev. Jack Davis, the Rev. Joe Horrell and the Rev. Pat Tony officiating. Interment, with Miliary Honors by American Legion Post # 16, will follow in Suck Spring Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.
Published in the Roanoke Times on 11/14/2008