Geneva Morris

Geneva Irene Morris of Roswell, NM, went to Heaven on Wednesday, June 5. She was the first of four girls born to Stanley Whitehead and Hazel Wagner Whitehead on March 23, 1932 in the family home. Her sisters were Lilla (Brashears), Lavida (Traxler), and Marthella (Norris, Flowers). Geneva had very fond memories of her childhood home in East Grand Plains. She grew up in Roswell and met her future husband, Doyle Morris, whom she married shortly after graduating from high school. They were married for 66 years. Shortly after marrying, Doyle and Geneva moved to California where they were involved in Christian ministry and church-planting. They spent the next 40 years in California and their 6 children were born there. Geneva started driving a school bus for Berryessa School District while in her mid-30's. She loved to drive. Later, she became the bus supervisor. Geneva loved life. She loved homemaking and home was usually "grand central station". She loved music. She sang and played the piano and organ. Geneva also was creative and learned nearly all the crafts going, from leather work to cake decorating. She sold many items at craft fairs and contributed decorated cakes to Tabernacle Baptist's youth fund-raising auctions. She made many wedding cakes. Geneva's high school ambition was to travel the world. Little did she know that she would travel to see her children and grandchildren in Mexico, Australia, and Hawaii. Eventually, she traveled to 9 countries and all 50 states. After Geneva retired, she and Doyle moved back to Roswell to take care of her parents. Roswell was always "home" to her. She got involved again at Tabernacle Baptist Church and continued practicing hospitality to pastors and missionaries, opening her home for Seniors' and choir events. In these last years, she saw her sister Lilla, and her youngest daughter, Gayla, go to Heaven. Heaven was precious to Geneva. Geneva's favorite verses were Proverbs 3:5, 6, and Mark 12:30 "and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength..." She spoke this verse to her daughter a few hours before going to Heaven. Geneva was an example of the believer in "word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity". She was cheerful, generous, fun-loving, and kept a positive view of life. Geneva is survived by 4 sons and 1 daughter: Stanley (Rene, James, Dean), Doyla (Bill Bramblet, Stephen, Philip, Karen), Dan (Debbie, Christina, Jonathan, James, Benjamin), David (Lyn, Shanna, Elizabeth, Whitney, Micah), and Dwayne (Angela, Alysha, Judson, Victoria), as well as many cousins and extended family, some of whom live here in Roswell. The family want to thank the members of Tabernacle Baptist Church who were so helpful to Geneva in her later years, the bus who picked her up, friends who visited, and especially her cousin, Marla McCreary, who took her shopping and did many other things for her. Geneva's funeral will be held on Thursday, June 13, at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 115 W. 11th St., Roswell, at 2 p.m. Viewing will also be held at the church at 10 a.m. the same day. Burial will follow at Memorial Lawn Cemetery on 19th St., Roswell. We love you so much, Mom and Granny. You had so many friends who love you. It won't be a long time before we're all together again in Heaven