Westville Cemetery
Adair County, Oklahoma

Betty Jean Cagle Morris

© Stilwell (OK) Democrat Journal
October 29, 2014
Submitted by: Wanda Elliott

Betty Jean Morris was born July 31, 1921 in Baron, OK, to Charley and Bessie (Little) Cagle. She died October 18, 2014 in Fayetteville, AR.

In 1936 Betty moved to Westville, where she finished school. She joined the Westville Pentecostal Holiness Church on January 21, 1945. That’s where she met and married her future husband.

Floyd Ray Morris and Betty Jean Cagle were married July 19, 1941. To this union were born two children, Linda Jean Morris (Sept. 18, 1947) and Geneva Lee Morris (Jan. 30, 1951).

They lived in Westville for several months, they then moved to Texas and New Mexico where Floyd and his twin brother, Lloyd, worked as electricians on construction projects to store supplies for the military during WWII.

Later, the twins decided to join the Merchant Marines. They got their training in St. Petersburg, FL. Betty joined her husband later. While in St. Petersburg, Betty was baptized in Tampa Bay along with thirteen others from the church. Once the twins shipped out, Betty and Floyd never saw each other until after the war had ended.

While Floyd was on the cargo ship hauling supplies to our boys and girls overseas, Betty was living in Oakland, CA. She worked at Kaiser Shipyard in the building where the International Business Machine Telephone Department was located. She worked in the IBM department. Betty was fascinated with those machines and soon was printing payroll checks.

When the war was over, Betty and Floyd reunited in Oklahoma, where they lived a few years before they started traveling again. Floyd worked in industrial construction across many states. After two years in Miami, FL, they decided to come home to Oklahoma. They wanted Linda to have Westville as her hometown.

Betty served her church wherever she was needed, including the positions of youth director, Sunday School teacher and a member of the Board as Secretary and Treasurer. Betty read the entire Bible through at least once a year for over 20 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charley and Bessie Cagle, her husband, Floyd Morris, her daughters Linda Jean Morris and Geneva Lee Morris.

Survivors include two granddaughters, Dayla Martin, her husband Ashley, and daughters Gracee and Kadee Martin; Jatina Coburn, her husband Chris, and children Wesley, Courtney, Caleb, Trevor and Amy Coburn.

Funeral Services were held at 2 pm on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Roberts & Hart Chapel, Westville, OK with Bro. Audie Vaughan officiating. Interment followed at Westville City Cemetery.

Floyd R. Morris

© Stilwell (OK) Democrat Journal
November 29, 2006
Submitted by: Martha Real

On November 19, 1921, Floyd Morris and Twin brother, Lloyd were born to Bert and Kate (Woods) Morris in the same house in which their mother was born, near Westville, Oklahoma.

He passed from this life November 24, 2006 in Springdale, Arkansas at the age of 85 years and five days.

Floyd and Betty were married 65 years. to this union were born two daughters which preceded them in death, Linda Jean 9/18/1947 to 3/26/2005 and Geneva Lee 1/20/1951 to 2/1/1951. Floyd was also preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and their wives, J. C. and Ruth Morris, Melvin and Ruby Morris and Lloyd and Ruby Morris and sister, Pauline.

Floyd's dad died when he was four years old and he grew up working for their Woods uncles who ran a large farm and ranching operation.

Floyd began attending the Westville Pentecostal Holiness Church when he was nine years old and was a faithful member his entire life. During those 76 years, he served in many positions including deacon, secretary, treasurer, youth director, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent and as a member of the church board. The Pentecostal Holiness Church is also where he met and later married his wife, Betty Jean Cagle.

When Rural Electric Association (REA) started building electric lines around Westville, Floyd and Lloyd started wiring houses, a trade which they followed the rest of their lives. They wired almost all of the houses in this area.

After spending a year on industrial construction during the first part of World War II, the twins joined the Merchant Marines. In St. Petersburg, Florida, they were together through basic training and then were separated. As each ship was only allowed one chief electrician, the twins didn't see each other until the war ended and they came back to Westville.

Floyd and Lloyd operated an electric business for a few years in Westville. Then they traveled the country working on industrial construction in several states, including Florida. After two years in Miami, Floyd decided to bring his family home to raise cattle and horses. He became the President of the Cattlemen's Association and the county President of Farm Bureau. The farm was his home for the remainder of his life. (Floyd also worked industrial jobs on several islands in the Carribean and Tuele Air Force Base in Greeland)

Floyd is survived by his wife, Betty, two granddaughters and their familes, Ashley and Dayla Martin and their daughter, Gracynne and Chris and Jatina Coburn and their children, Wesley, Courtney, Caleb and Trevor and one brother and his wife, Kenneth and Gerri Morris, and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at Hart Memorial Chapel in Westville with Bro. Jerry Morris and Philip Ayento officiating.

Interment will follow at the Westville City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.