This week the Servant Leader, William Levi Morris III - that Randy and I affectionately called "Dad" in the warm home we grew up in - climbed tenderly the stairs to the doors of Heaven, and graduated from this life into Eternity with Jesus Christ. With 92 strong years behind him, 67 of them wonderfully married with Mom, Dad passed peacefully onward on Thursday afternoon, the 30th of January 2025.

Confident, yet humble and reserved in nature, Dad was energetic to talk about his exploits and accomplishments when asked, but there are likely many amazing things about our Dad that you don't know. I invite you to read on and allow me to gush on his behalf and share with you all a bit of his incredible life-story. Our father was born in West Monroe, Louisiana in an unassuming and non-affluent neighborhood on the Ouachita River. Driving his Model-A Ford back and forth to Auburn University during college, headlights in your eyes over the yellow line from on-coming cars was a challenge. I remember Dad telling me about writing a letter to some government office with a suggestion to add another white line on the outside edge of the pavement. Perhaps he could have been famous if claiming a Patent was a priority to him, but his focus was on completing his Aeronautical Engineering degree to earn his commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. He completed flight training and received his Navy Pilot's wings of gold in September 1955 and received a rather flattering assignment for his skills; orders to serve as a Flight Instructor for 2 years. It was here in the midst of buzzing the treetops over Milton, Florida that Dad scored the greatest accomplishment of his whole life – meeting a blind date named Mavis Morris, and marrying this beautiful lady, to make of their two life-journeys, one single journey more full and complete.

Next, Mom and Dad set off together for Dad's sea-tour aboard USS RANGER (CV-61) as a Special Weapons Delivery Pilot in the VA-146 bomber squadron. I leave it to your imagination to figure out what kind of weapons were "special" from the deck of an aircraft carrier in 1957. Leaving active duty for the Reserves in 1959, Dad joined the Boeing Company as a test pilot and flight test engineer for the Bomarc Missile program at Eglin AFB, Florida, and then a short season in Seattle, WA as a Boeing 707 test pilot, and as flight instructor training pilots for transition to the B-707 airliner. Together, they transferred to Huntsville, AL in 1962 where Dad served as a test engineer on the SATURN V Moon Rocket program, and the SATURN S-1C lift vehicle program.

In 1968 our Rocketman Dad transferred to Fort Worth, TX, with Mom and two munchkins in-tow to work on the SRAM Missile and partner with General Dynamics on the FB-111 supersonic fighter/bomber aircraft. Then back to Seattle in 1972 for projects on the Minuteman Missile, the US Army Roland Air Defense System, and engineering leadership on the Navy's E-6 Submarine Communications Relay aircraft, in a familiar 707 air frame. All the while, continuing to climb in the US Navy Reserves through monthly and annual active duty exercises. And all the while, providing a warm loving home as husband and father.

When Dad finally put down the slide-rule and compass for retirement, he left with 33 years of service to Boeing, and 26 years in the Navy; retiring with honors at the rank of CAPTAIN (O-6) with thousands of hours and hundreds of carrier landings. Our humble and reserved Servant Leader had quietly achieved much and served well.

Following 17 wonderful, retired years spent with our "Stewart Clan" family near Pensacola and traveling the world on their incredible trips all over the globe (visiting 130+ countries!), Mom and Dad found golden people and golden years living in Magnolia Trace in Huntsville, Alabama again – and discovered treasured friends from the Rocketman years on the Space Program retired there too. What a blessing this place has been for them, as Dad finished his part of the race.

Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mavis Morris; his son Randy, with wife Dawn, and family; and his son John, with wife Fran, and family. Their beloved extended family includes 7 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Magnolia Trace community living center on Tuesday the 4th of February 2025 at 2:00pm. (1 Clubhouse Avenue SW, Huntsville, AL 35802)

The deep attachments, experiences and valuable ministries that Mom and Dad have shared at Magnolia Trace may be honored by charitable contributions to the address above towards either the Magnolia Trace Choir where Dad was a member, or the Samaritan Fund that helps residents in financial need.

Blue Diamond 304, you are cleared for takeoff. Have a joyous and eternal flight.