Vernon Morris was born on July 10, 1945 to George and Helen Morris of Bangor, SK. He was the oldest boy in the family of five children. As a toddler, Vern moved with his parents and older sisters Evelyn and Adeleine to Yorkton, where his younger siblings Raymond and Wendy were born. As a boy, Vern attended Victoria Elementary School and the Yorkton Collegiate Institute (YCI). He was an intelligent student and although quiet in nature, he was an active and fun loving youngster. Raymond remembers playing hockey with Vernon on the driveway of their home and in the street with their friends. When Vern's father built an ice rink for the children in the backyard, they played "Hockey Night in Canada". Vern loved to build things as a child. He constructed many model airplanes and cars as well. One of the planes he built had a little motor and he spent many hours trying to fly it with a string attached. Evelyn remembers that he wanted to be a pilot. Popular mechanics was his favourite magazine at the time and his inventive father sometimes browsed through the latest issue with him. As a young man while employed at the Morris Rod Weeder Company, he designed the company's first curved hitch under the direction of engineer Dave Dobson. Fishing was also a passion for Vern. He loved to read the Fish and Game magazine and enjoyed fishing with his father, brother, brother-in-law Vern Sylvester and friends. He was athletic and played recreational hockey, golfed and curled. He was a fan of sporty cars, particularly Ford Cougars. As a teenager, Vern had a great love of popular music and listened to a diverse range of artists. He had an impressive vinyl collection and would often listen to music with his younger sister Wendy: "He introduced me to music I had never heard before, like Joan Baez, Marvin Gay, Duane Eddy and the Glen Yarborough and the Limeliters. It was such great music and we really had a lot of fun together". As an older teen, Vernon was afflicted with the mental illness schizophrenia. His family was heartbroken and his father explored every avenue that was available to help his oldest son overcome his malady. Although Vern was accepted to the Â鶹´«Ã½AVern Alberta Institute of Technology to study Architectural Engineering, he was not able to complete the course due to his mental health. In his later years, Vernon had physical challenges, but these issues did not affect his outlook on life. He kept his sense of humour and like his father, had the courage and determination of a lion in his kind heart. He never considered giving up on life. Vernon was greatly loved by his parents and his siblings. His father visited him daily after he left home until Mr. Morris was no longer able to drive. His sister Evelyn often invited Vern to her home in Yorkton and visited with him regularly when he moved to Saskatoon in 2009. Vernon was fortunate in his later life to have Jollean Ireland as his caregiver, who was dedicated to his comfort and well being. Vernon was predeceased by his father George in 1989 and his mother Helen in 1993. He is survived by his siblings Evelyn, Adeleine, Raymond and Wendy Morris and his son Clayton Belitski and grandchildren Aleese, Marcus and Lucus Belitski. The funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey, B.Th. officiating. Words of remembrance were given by his sister Adeleine. Special music, 'You'll Never Walk Alone' (Elvis Presley), 'Forever Young' (Joan Baez) and 'It's a Wonderful World' (Louis Armstrong). A poem 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Night' by Dylan Thomas was read. The interment took place in the family plot at the Llewelyn Cemetery with Clayton Belitski, Cameron Sylvester, Reagan Flaherty, Wayne Stephens, John Wach and David Dobson serving as the casket bearers. Condolences may be left at baileysfuneralhome.com. Memorials were to the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan.
