Jay W Morris

View Funeral WebcastMr. Jay W. Morris, 100, master carpenter and resident of the Zion Community, passed from this life Monday, December 21, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Life will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Pastor Chad Moore and Reverend Mike Dawson officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 12:00 P.M. to service time at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial to Zion Christian Academy Athletic Department, 6901 Old Zion Road, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Wayne County native was the youngest of seven children of the late Jacob W. Morris and Ola Shipman Morris. On December 31, 1942 he married Norma Jean Boyd Morris and their sixty-nine year marriage ended with her death February 4, 2012. He was a barefoot boy, a football player and light weight division boxer at The University of Tennessee at Martin. He was a teacher in a one room school house, a mail carrier, and business owner. Mr. Morris was skilled with his hands and had built and repaired more things than can be counted and was a member of The Carpenter's Union of Ohio for fifty years. He served in the US Army during World War II as first sergeant. He's been a golfer, a dancer, a traveler, and a snow bird. For years he and his wife wintered in Lakeland, Florida. A man of quiet faith, he was a member of First Baptist Church. Mr. Morris was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather. He was an uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He is survived by his daughters, Bettie (Joe) Gobble of Columbia, and Jan (Colin) Davis of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Tim (Denice) Meidinger of Houston, TX; Bryan (Carmen) Meidinger of Forney, TX; Jacob (Bonnie) Meidinger of Sealy, TX; Jason Gobble of Northfield, MN; Tom Lamb of Northfield, MN; Paige (Kevin) Hight of Columbia; Heather (Stephen) James of Nashville; and Jonathan (Karen) Gobble of Columbia; great grandchildren, Troy (Nicole) Meidinger of Houston, Tx; Lauren Meidinger of Houston, Tx; Ryan Meidinger of Houston, TX; Max Hight of Columbia; Gracen Hight of Columbia; Emma Claire James of Nashville; Elijah James of Nashville; Henry James of Nashville; Teddy James of Nashville; Isabell Gobble of Columbia; Oliver Gobble of Columbia; and Eleanor Gobble of Columbia; great great grandchild, Mia Meidinger of Houston, TX; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, and two sisters. Active pallbearers will be Tim Meidinger, Bryan Meidinger, Jacob Meidinger, Jonathan Gobble, Jason Gobble, Kevin Hight, Stephen James, and Tom Lamb.