Roll Call Tribute

David Gordon Morrison

November 17, 1941 - June 12, 2022

David Gordon Morrison, born in Amarillo, Texas on November 17, 1941, to JC and Lathelle Morrison, has moved from his Salt Lake City, Utah residence to an ethereal address, joining previously-deceased and well-loved family members and beloved pets. His peaceful crossing of the bar at his home in Salt Lake City on June 12, 2022 occurred in the presence of his dear wife of 43 years, Maureen Lahey Morrison, and his devoted children--Christopher Morrison of Provo, Utah and Hannah Morrison of Seattle, Washington. His passing came at the end of a lengthy and exhausting entanglement with Lewy body dementia punctuated by Parkinson's disease.

David was fiercely devoted to family and country, believing that no matter the nation's struggles he was privileged to live in the greatest place on earth. Born a Texan, he appreciated the relevance of boots, hat, and buckle, but eschewed line dancing, preferring instead large doses of anything Beethoven. His alma mater was Texas A&M where he was a member of the graduating class of 1964, Company E-2, Sul-Ross Group. There he was schooled as much by smart, driven, and intensely loyal classmates as by professors, and these associations resonated with him his entire life. Once launched from the A&M haven, he commanded Army post offices in Vietnam during his two tours of duty and came to admire and respect the humble, gentle, and hard-working people of Vietnam, in spite of the horrific conflict engulfing them. The effects of that war in which he so ably served dogged him to the end. After exiting the military and in his professional life as a stock broker, perhaps as a result of those tumultuous years, he catered to those down on their luck, taking in strays of both the two-legged and four-legged variety, convinced he could help them prevail over a temporary difficulty with enough of the right kind of help.

A lifelong eccentric, David was opinionated, blunt, and convinced that truth is identifiable and defensible. Some of his personal truths were that his children are exceptional human beings whose footprints left a remarkable legacy in his heart; that prayer is best when relevant and brief; that a wrong decision is preferable to no decision; that long conversations are satisfying provided he maintained control over them; that any history authored by Barbara Tuchman is worth staying up until 3:00 a.m. to consume; that God is present but is most easily found in the church vestibule with post-service coffee and donuts; that naps are important as are long walks with a favorite dog; that steamed vegetables should always trump Texas sheet cake, for obvious reasons; and, finally, that family is everything.

He is survived by his wife and two children as well as his brothers Bryan and Michael Morrison, and his sisters Rhea Nell Morrison and Mary Guinn. He is already sorely missed.

A memorial service and military burial will be held at a future date, and those details will be shared once they are finalized. Arrangements are entrusted to Starks Funeral Parlor. Please visit www.starksfuneral.com for service details and to share your memories and photos with his family. In the meantime, if you want to honor a life well lived, David would have recommended that you listen to Beethoven's 9th at high volume.