James Edward Morrow

James Edward Morrow, age 88 of Moberly, MO passed away with family at his bedside on July 3, 2024 at his home in Moberly, MO. He will be remembered as fun, brave, and creative.

Jim was born on December 6, 1935 in rural Hartford, Missouri in a two-story log house. He attended Good Hope grade school and graduated from Unionville High School in 1953. As a young man he raised chickens, drove school buses and worked at the Davis Chevrolet garage as a mechanic. He also worked at the Morgan Garage driving a wrecker. During that time, he helped with the recovery of an airplane crash in 1961. He joined the Missouri Highway & Transportation Department and worked there until 1982. He went to work at NEMO Coal until 1988. He rejoined MODOT in 1989 and worked there until his retirement.

James belonged to First Presbyterian Church in Marshall, MO and later Celebration Church in Sedalia. He attended several churches in the Moberly area when he came back to Moberly. He was initiated into the Masonic Fraternity in Hartford, MO in 1962 and was a member for 61.5 years until his death, culminating at Cairo Lodge #486. He was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star, finishing his tenure at Cairo Chapter #180 at the time of his death. He was also very involved in the International Order of Rainbow for Girls (IOORFG), Moberly Assembly #40 where he served as the Dad Advisor where his daughters belonged. He was also awarded the Grand Cross of Color for the IOORG.

Jim's special interests included dances, collecting and repairing clocks and making beautiful stained glass pieces. He also liked to salvage stained glass from old churches to repair. His home had many beautiful samples of his work displayed for his family and friends to see. He enjoyed traveling, meeting new people and playing card games as well as attending community dance events at the Moose Lodges and other community centers. His grandchildren remember tractor rides and long bouts of playing Phase 10 at his home. He was proud of his work researching his family history all the way back to Colonial Jamestown.

James is survived by his daughters Leah (Denell) Stein of Moberly, MO and Rachel (Lynn) Neal of Shelbyville, KY and their mother Sharon (Morgan) Morrow of Shelbyville. Grandchildren: Jordan (Nathan) Holtzclaw of Columbia, MO, Hannah (Tyler) Price of Moberly, MO, Will (Azalee) Stein of Moberly, Bethany (Brett) Johnson of Middletown, KY, and Sean Neal of Shelbyville, KY. His great-grandchildren are Samuel and Matilda Holtzclaw, Ezekiel and Lydia Price, Titus and Aubrielle Joanna (AJ) Stein, Hayley, Alexander and Lauren Johnson and Tymprynce Neal.  He is survived also by his brother Bob (Carol) Morrow of Des Moines, IA and his bonus grandchildren Gracie and Gaberiel Haggard of Moberly. There are many nieces and nephews as well.

He was preceded in death by two wives Sandra Oelieen and Melinda Stansberry of Sedalia as well as parents, sisters Doris Dixon and Twyla Perkins, brother Larry Morrow and niece Linda Dixon as well as several cousins in Putnam County.

Friends will be received from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Friday, July 12, 2024 at Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel with a Masonic and Eastern Star Service to follow at 7:30 pm. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel with Rev. Cole Callaway-Hodson.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapels, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, MO 65270 (660) 263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at millardfamilychapels.com.