Jim Morris
deceased

We regret the loss of Jim Morris, 56, long time Mercer Island resident, and former Transportation Supervisor of the Mercer Island School District. Jim was born at Cleveland Ohio on June 6, 1944, and his family came to the island in 1954. He graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1962, and then attended and graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane, WA in 1966.

A few years later he returned to the island, where he drove as a regular driver for the school district from 1972 to 76. During this time he was a Special Education Teachers Assistant and a Youth Care Worker for a local cancer association when he was not driving. He was Transportation Supervisor for our school district from 1976 to 1980.

During this time he married his wife Debbie, and had a daughter, Becky. He also volunteered for our fire department for several years.  He left to be Transportation Supervisor at the Renton WA, and later the Tillamook Oregon school systems. He had a video store for a few years in Snoqualmie, WA. He then worked as a driver for Brinks, and for the Seattle Metro bus system on weekends. Last year he drove a regular school bus route for our school district, while assisting management of the recreation room at Shorewood Apartments. This year he was a general substitute driver for the school, and assisted the district while operating his own accounting firm.

He is survived by his former wife, Debbie Dyche, and daughter Becky Dyche of Spokane WA; parents Lucien and Jean Morris, of Bainbridge Island, WA; and brothers Bob, of Sand Point, Idaho, Don, of Bainbridge Island, and sisters Sarah Hoffman of Mclain, VA, and Laura Bean of  Bellevue WA.

Jim is best remembered for his great care and outstanding abilities in resolving problems for children riding on our school busses.

 

Email the webmaster if you have any favorite memories.

Allan Williams Memories: Jim Morris was my best friend for three years after we got re-connected through the 35-year reunion. Enjoyed talking with him at length, and we visited his parents then living on Bainbridge Island twice. He died unexpectedly in his sleep in 2000, and I was sad to have him leave us.

We shared a Seattle Times afternoon bundle drop at the corner of East Mercer Way and US 10 (now I-90) for five years from 8th thru 12th grades. His father Lucien was a world famous anesthesiologist working at the UW and Providence Hospital. Lucien invented the Copper Kettle Vaporizer, an important anesthesia device. His mother Jean was superintendent of the Mercer Is Presbyterian church school for many years. Jim is remembered for having a lot of friends in our class, and was a great friend for me.

 

updated 6/18/12