William Ralph Morris Jr.

Published 10:42 am Monday, September 16, 2024

Bill Morris, born March 13, 1955, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2024. He will be missed by many, most of all by his four children Will, John, Joseph, and Maggie (Nick), two grandchildren Bryce and Wyatt, sister Beth (Jeff), former wife Lynn and Aunt Helen. Bill is survived by cousins Allan S. Reynolds (Harriet) of Norfolk, VA, Laura Hill (Clyde) of Haslet, TX, Jeff Hashbarger (Ginger) of Bluff City, TN, Lisa Buchanan (Bucky) of Bristol, VA, Aunt Anne Hashbarger of Bristol, VA, Luann Cherry of Georgia and Ed Cherry of Colorado. Bill was predeceased by parents William R. Morris Sr. and Betty Hashbarger Morris of Chesapeake, VA and uncles and aunts: Allan and Mary Jane Reynolds of Norfolk, VA, Dr. John A. Morris, DDS of Norfolk, VA, Lloyd Hashbarger of Bristol, VA and Bill and Phyllis Cherry of Chattanooga, TN and Paula Williams of Portsmouth, VA.

After graduating from Granby High School in 1973, Virginia Wesleyan College and Duke Theological Seminary, Bill became a Methodist minister and worked in Isle of Wight County, Va. He then attended the Norfolk Police Academy and started his career in law enforcement in Ocean View, Norfolk. Moving to the Outer Banks he worked for the Town of Kill Devil Hills as a police officer and as a Dare County Deputy D.A.R.E. Officer teaching a drug abuse resistance education curriculum. He also gave back to the community as a Kill Devil Hills Commissioner.

Bill loved the Sheriff’s Office Therapeutic Wilderness (Alpine Tower) and Bicycle Safety Programs. A fun loving, generous and upbeat person he was “all in” when organizing trips for Dare County students to the Grand Canyon or spearheading neighborhood gatherings with talented musicians such as Joe Maniscalco.

The Celebration of Life will be held on September 21, 2024 at Nags Head Baptist Church, 2 p.m., 105 W. Soundside Rd, Nags Head. Bill was a dog lover. In lieu of flowers, please consider adopting a dog or cat or making a donation to the OBX SPCA or charity of your choice. (Outer Banks SPCA, P.O. Box 2477, Manteo, NC 27954. www.obxspca.org) Share expressions of sympathy with the family at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc. was entrusted with arrangements.

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