Dewey County Obituary
Sunnyside Cemetery

aka Vici

© SHAW REDINGER FUNERAL HOME
VICI, DEWEY CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

LUELLA LUCIELLE MORRIS

December 20, 1938 - May 14, 2017

Luella Lucielle (Goodman) Morris was born December 20, 1938 to Lorin & Thelma (Grothe) Goodman in Parkland, OK. She was the 6th of 8 children. She passed from this life on May 14, 2017 at the age of 78 years, 4 months & 24 days.

As a young child her family moved fairly often, but she still was able to attend only 3 schools: Sunnyside, Vici and Seiling. Being raised in a large family who made their living by farming, the children were needed to help out many times. Luella learned at an early age how to work in the field, hoeing or picking cotton or pulling broomcorn, working as hard as many men. This experience instilled in her the ability to work hard at any project and to never say, “I can’t do that.”

On January 4, 1953, at the age of 14, Luella was baptized into the General Assembly & Church of the Firstborn at Vici. Living the Faith was the #1 priority for Luella all the rest of her days. Her very last words were exhortations on living the Faith.

On September 11, 1955, at the age of 16, Luella married Freddie Morris, the handsome, wavy haired man that stole her heart. They were married at Vici at 9:30 on Sunday morning. They sat through church, attended a baptism, went to a picnic and their wedding shower at Bro. Judd & Sis Thelma Poulson’s Creek, and prayed that God would accept them skipping the ordinance supper that night, so they could head to their home in Homestead with their wedding gifts. This was the beginning of their journey of 61 years, 7 months, and 2 days of marriage.

To this marriage 3 children were born, Owen Deon, Wilda Diane, and Karen Sue.

After moves from Homestead to Oklahoma City, to Seiling, to Taloga, in June of 1966 Freddie and Luella and their 3 children moved to Vici, where Freddie and Luella lived within the community until the end of her life.

Luella had the skills to take very little and make the most of it. She was not afraid to tackle any project, especially if it was one that would make their house more of a home, or help her family in any way. Sewing clothes, curtains, pillows and bedspreads, making drapes, re-upholstering and refinishing furniture, painting and hanging wallpaper, gardening and canning, or whatever was required, she managed to make every penny stretch as far as it needed. However, most people are aware, her special talent was making beautiful quilts, and hand quilting them with very short, precise stitches. Being allowed to quilt on one of her quilts meant you had managed to meet her very stringent standards, which was quite an honor.

Throughout the years, Freddie and Luella travelled many places to assemble with the brethren. Because of their travelling amongst the brethren, they became acquainted with many from far and wide, so they had the opportunity to extend hospitality to visiting brethren. They thoroughly enjoyed many years of going to Colorado Church Camp, spending time ahead of the meetings helping to get the campground ready, visiting with brethren, helping provide warm clothes and bedding for those who showed up unprepared for the cold they would encounter, and being the camp “grocery store”. If someone didn’t have something they needed, it was common knowledge that Luella would have the most well stocked camper in the campground, so check with her before sending someone to town for supplies.

Even after Luella had her struggles with her, “short term memory loss” as she put it, and up until she fell and ended up in bed, she always delighted in going to visit the brethren, checking on and praying for the sick, visiting the widows, and providing for the needs of others. Only God knows how many meals she prepared for the sick, the bereaved, and families of new babies. But anyone who knew Luella well, knows that she was happiest cleaning house for her family and for those that needed help. She could see what was needed, and have it done before many people would even process that there were dishes to be washed, floors to be swept, or laundry to be done. She wouldn’t hesitate to help the older brethren with window washing, painting, yard work, or whatever they needed done. Hard work was never a deterrent for Luella, in fact, it seemed sometimes the bigger the challenge, the more she was drawn to the project. If she couldn’t find some project to do, her close friend, Sis Arlene Boyd, would come up with some adventure for them to undertake. Which might end up with a lawnmower falling out of the pickup, but no matter what, they managed to laugh their way through it.

Luella is survived by her husband: Freddie Morris of Vici, Son: Owen & wife, Gladys of Perkins, Daughters: Wilda Nichols & husband, Jim of Tulsa, & Karen Burson & husband, Gene of Welling and a very special niece, who was like a daughter: Sonja Gregory & husband, Alva of Vici. 13 Grandchildren: Brandy Cruz, Cole Morris, Lauren Morris, Adam Grant, Katy Espy, Justine Thomas, JoElla Retherford, Jarrett Hutton, Eli Jennings, Monica Wright, & Clint, Christyn & Kyle Burson; & 12 Great Grandchildren Brother: Lonnie Goodman & wife, Jann of Eufala, Sisters: Delores Arnold of Newcastle and Donna Ellis of Bethany, Brother-in-law, Leroy Morris of Taloga.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Lorin & Thelma Goodman, Brothers: Ercell & Frank, Sisters: Arvetta Turner & Norma Jones Son-in-law: Terry Hutton, Grandson: Jonathan Hutton, 3 infant grandsons & 1 infant great-grandson

Thursday, May 18, 2017
2:00 PM
General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn
6 miles east of Vici, OK on Hwy 51
Vici, Oklahoma 73859
Burial following services at Sunnyside Cemetery, Vici, OK