William Lee Morris

William Lee Morris (Bill), born on July 15, 1940, in Washington, DC passed away on December 26, 2024, at his home in Hereford, Arizona.

Bill was a man with integrity, wisdom, loyalty and a passion to service his country- still working jobs at Fort Huachuca up until age 84. Bill grew up in McLean, Virginia with his father William Bernard Morris and Helen Nowell who taught him to be proud of American values, work hard and live with integrity. Bill forever held his father in the highest esteem and always considered his father his hero. Bill had two younger sisters, Sandra Tucker (deceased) and Judith Murray (AZ).

After high school, Bill attended Virginia Tech, was on the dive team and was in ROTC. Upon graduation from VT he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was shortly thereafter deployed for his first of two tours in Vietnam. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, a Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Metal, and Vietnam Service Metal (6 Campaigns).

He earned his Master’s degree in History from the University of Arizona in Tucson. He was a great athlete; baseball being his biggest passion. Later in life, he was able to return to Vietnam where he met with Vietnamese Officers in Hanoi who also served in the war and the MIA/POW Mission Leads who honored Bill for his service. This trip was life-changing since he was able to circle back to reflect on the hard days of war and reconcile with Vietnamese soldiers to honor men on both sides of the war.

Bill always excelled in his professional life, serving as an Intelligence Officer in the Army, then joined civil service as an intelligence instructor at the NCO Academy on Fort Huachuca. After retiring from his civil service career, he joined the Huachuca City Police Department, as a reserve officer. He graduated from the Tucson Police Academy in 1991 and became a full-time police officer with Huachuca City, once again showing his athleticism by completing the police academy at the age of 51 and earning top marks in the training exercises. He served on the police forces in Huachuca City and Oro Valley. He then worked at Weiser Lock and later America West Airlines in Tucson, AZ.

Upon his retirement in Herford, AZ, he worked the Indy 500 and Talladega Super Speedway for 10 years where he got to meet all his childhood racing heroes and even was on a first name basis with Roger Penski and AJ Foyt. Later in his retirement, he continued his service to our country as a role player for field training exercises at Fort Huachuca. Additionally, he reveled as a police ride-along volunteer in Tombstone, AZ. Bill’s passions extended beyond his career.

He loved strumming country songs on his guitar playing Chet Atkins and Merle Haggard. Bill was an avid cyclist and completed the Tour de Tucson over 10 years in a row, each year improving his performance. He was an avid car enthusiast and raced motorcycles and cars, enjoyed riding his Harley Davison motorcycles (making trips up and down the coasts).

His most memorable trips aboard included, Egypt, London, Paris and scuba diving in San Carlos, Mexico. He enjoyed golfing, where he worked on the golf course and volunteered for many years on the PGA and LPGA Tour. He was a continuous student of history; he missed his calling, he could have been a Jeopardy champion. William Lee Morris revived his spirituality and was baptism by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Vista, Arizona in 2015. He was quickly anointed Elder and tasked with increasing levels of responsibility in the church. His church members were family to him and he was grateful for their support and love throughout the years. He admired the church’s strong connection to God, their devotion to family values, and their service to their community.

William Lee Morris is preceded in heaven by his parents, William and Helen Morris, his sister Sandra Tucker, and his cherished Aunt Nancy and Uncle Lawerence. He is survived by his sister Judith Murrary (AZ), his children Renata Caughman (TX), Marti Morris (TX), Tammy Dewan (VA) and William Lee Morris, Jr. (AZ). His grandchildren Nicholas Caughman (TX), Chantel Fortun (AZ), Mya Fortun (CA), Jacob Morris (AZ), Katheryn Caughman (TX), Vanessa Barron (TX), Joshua Dewan (VA) and Adelyn Dewan (VA), plus life-long friends through the United States. Bill always had a special place in his heart for his dogs and treated them like cherished members of his family, including, Oliver and Lucy, Cody, Bo and Rhondo, Silky and Velvet and Butch and Gizmo.

William Lee Morris’ life was full of achievements, passion and hard work, leaving an indelible mark on all who were fortunate enough to know him. His legacy will live on through our memories, heart and through the morals and values he instilled in everyone that he touched with his wisdom. He will be forever loved, forever cherished and missed.

The celebration of his life will be on Monday, January 6 at 12:00 pm at Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.

Please visit, write a tribute, and share photos at Bill’s Veterans Legacy Memorial page- https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/WILLIAMLEEMORRIS/a874f4

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Lee Morris, please visit our floral store.