MORRIS, BYRON LESLIE, 88 , Retired USD 259 Teacher and Principal, passed away on February 15, 2019 at Via Christi St. Francis. Byron was born on September 9, 1930 in Tahlequah, OK to William and Nellea "Morrison" Morris. On September 22, 1950 he married the love of his life, Alma Lewis in Tahlequah and they spent the next 68 wonderful years together. Most of Byron's teaching career was spent with USD 259 at Cloud Elementary but he even had the opportunity to teach in Alaska and Oklahoma. Byron loved shooting competitively and hunting with his bird dogs. He and his son built custom homes together and Byron was a jack of all trades on the job sites; doing plumbing, carpentry, electrical and anything else that needed done. He always led by example and would be the first to clean up the job sites. He enjoyed woodworking and building all kinds of things like entertainment centers, coffee tables and anything else he could fashion for his family. Byron was good with automotives; even restoring a '38 Ford from a rusted out body in a field with no motor to it's original glory. He loved teasing people, whether it be his children or grandchildren or the ladies in his and Alma's Sunday School Group where he was affectionately known as "Big Chief". Byron's passion was teaching and he could always be found teaching somebody something; but his true joy was his children and grandchildren. He would spend as much time as possible with them, taking the grandkids out on the lawn tractor with him or helping him build things; he loved having them around. Byron will be remembered as a strong, level headed, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.

B yron is survived by his loving wife Alma; daughter Anne Shoemaker(Owen); son Les Morris(Tonja); grandchildren Ryan(Melinda), Regan(Jenny), Brock(Holly), Buck(Shawna), Kathryn(David), Hanna and Ryland; 5 great granddaughters; 4 great grandsons and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Nellea; son Lloyd Anthony "Tony"; granddaughter Blaire; 2 brothers and 3 sisters.

V isitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Friday, February 22, 2019 at Heritage Funeral Home, 502 W. Central Ave., Andover. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Metro East Baptist Church, 333 N. 143rd St. E., Wichita, KS with Dr. Mark Penick officiating. Interment will follow in Bruno Township Cemetery, Andover, KS.

M emorial donations may be made in Byron's memory to Metro East Baptist Church Missions Group, 333 N. 143rd St. E., Wichita, KS in the Prayer Warrior's Name.