ROBERT N. MORRIS

Robert “Bob” Neal Morris, 89, of Hot Springs, Ark., formerly of Malvern, passed away Jan. 13, 2024.

Bob was born on March 31, 1934, in Cambridge, Ohio. His parents were, Florence (Robertson) and Curtis Thomas Morris, who also raised his cousin, Rita Kay Miles, as his sister.

Bob attended school in his early years in Ohio before the family moved to Waukegan, Ill. He worked for RPM Manufacturing as a machinist in Lamar, Mo., until entering the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1954. He received the National Defense Service Medal and was honorably discharged for medical reasons in January 1956.

Bob returned to Lamar, Mo., where he worked at LawnBoy, a division of Outboard Marine. He met and married Opal (Massmann) Morris of Lockwood, Mo., on Dec. 31, 1959. They lived in Carthage, Mo., until Lawn-Boy moved to Galesburg, Ill.. The family relocated, now with daughter Sherri Louise Morris, to Malvern, Ark., where he worked for A&D Screw Machine, Glenvale, Precision and Alcoa. After Alcoa, he worked for the Arkansas Highway Department in Malvern and Fordyce, Ark. He ultimately retired in Diamondhead, Hot Springs National Park, Ark., where he met and married Sharon Louise (Stumbaugh) Morris.

Bob was an avid golfer at a very early age and considered taking it up as a profession before joining the military. When he wasn’t working, he was on the golf course perfecting his game and able to shoot a hole in one five times in his lifetime. He was a member of the Malvern Country Club and Diamondhead Country Club, where he lived his retirement dream of golfing as often as possible.

An enjoyable pastime for Bob was watching old western movies, the Masters Championships and cheering for the Arkansas Razorbacks in football and basketball.

He was involved in the local community as a founding member of the St. Luke Lutheran Church, Malvern, and most recently attended Diamondhead Community Church. He also served in the Hot Springs Elk Lodge No. 380 since 2007.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his cousin, Rita Kay Miles, and aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Louise Morris; his daughters, Sherri Louise Morris, Frisco, Texas, and Beverly Faulkner Henslee (Andy), Carrollton, Texas; his stepdaughter, Sara Venable, Bella Vista, Ark.; stepson, Jarad Stumbaugh (Torri), Hot Springs, Ark.; mother-in-law, Louis Hardgraves, Hot Springs Ark.; grandchildren, Paige Faulkner, Addison, Texas, Drake Faulkner, Dallas, Texas, Riley Venable, Bella Vista, Ark.

Services will be held at the Diamondhead Community Church at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.

Any memorial donations can be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church or Diamondhead Community Church.