James Wilson Morrell

February 13, 1931 - February 28, 2017

James Wilson Morrell passed away suddenly on February 28, 2017, at the age of 86. He was the beloved husband of Marylyn Morrell for 64 years, as well as the beloved father of Martha Morrell and David Morrell, grandfather of Emily Trinkaus Carson, Sam and Madeline Trinkaus, and of Teodoro and Elias Morrell, father-in law of Peter Trinkaus (deceased), Kirsten Silva Gruesz and Jaime Tenedorio, and of his grandsons-in-law Daniel and Ted Tenedorio, and Zachary Carson.

He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Evelyn and Wilson Morrell.

Jim and Marylyn were married in 1952. Soon after graduation from Kalamazoo College he was inducted into the Army and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky assigned as an administrative clerk for General Creighton W. Abrams.

In 1955 his first job was with Saga Administrative Corporation. Jim continued to advance in Saga, serving on all levels of line operations and management at headquarters in Menlo Park, CA. In his final position with Saga, he served in the three-person Office of the President.

In 1986, Jim formed his own consulting organization, served as President and CEO of TeleSensory, and as CEO and President of the Saga Foundation. He was a member of several Boards of Directors, including The Charles Schwab Trust Company, Simco Electronics, Foster Farms, and Fabri-Kal Corporation. In addition, he was a past President of Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, served on the Board of Trustees of Kalamazoo College, and the Board of the Resource Center for Women in Palo Alto. Jim was a member of the Young Presidents’ and World Presidents’ Organizations. During the last years of his life, Jim published his memoirs using his skills in photojournalism, leaving his family a cherished gift.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions in his name to Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan or Peninsula Open Space Trust. The family will hold a memorial service in near future.