Obituary of Jack W. Morrison

Jack Whitworth Morrison, age 92 of Gardnerville, NV, passed away peacefully at home on December 31st, 2013. Jack was born to Lillie & Eldon Mingus in Noble, Oklahoma. After WWII, Jack changed his name from Mingus to Morrison in honor of his stepfather, Everett Lawrence "Buster" Morrison. Jack attended Yuba City High School. In 1939, Jack enlisted in the National Guard. In 1943 he re-enlisted with the Army. Jack served with the Army Corp of Engineers 543rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment in the Philippines and New Guinea. He was a heavy equipment operator and worked clearing the beaches. He was also part of the American Occupation force in Japan. Jack worked with heavy equipment most of his life, running mostly cranes and shovels. He worked many years for H. Earl Parker in Marysville, CA. Later in his life, he was co-owner of The Office Cocktail Lounge and the Seven Mile House. In 1967, he took a job with RMK/BRJ in Saigon, Vietnam, supervising road construction. When he returned, he finished his career working for Levin Metals running heavy cranes. Jack retired in 1983 to his home in Marysville, CA. During his retirement, he was a member of the STARS (Sheriff's Team of Active Residents in Service), and he volunteered for the Yuba/Sutter Gleaners food bank. He had a retired honorary Membership in Local #3 International Union of Operating Engineers. He was also a Master Mason in the Corinthian-Hammonton Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Marysville, California, and a life member of the VFW and American Legion. He also belonged to the Moose Lodge in Yuba City. Jack is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Steffonich Morrison. They were married in Carson City, NV, in 1947. He has two daughters, Lynda Morrison-Rader of Minden, NV and Melody Reed of Richland, WA; granddaughters Stephanie Hardie Allen, JD, of Reno, NV; Virginia Hardie, MD, of Omaha, NE; Jessica Rittenhouse of Vallejo, CA; Myranda Reed of Richland, WA; grandson Adam Reed of Las Vegas, NV; two great granddaughters; and one great grandson. He also had an informally "adopted" daughter, Lourdes Tiu Marasigan, from Manila, Philippines. She was an exchange student in Marysville, 1966-67. Funeral services will be held at the Sierra View Memorial Park in Marysville, CA on Friday, January 10th, 2014 at 11 AM. Viewing will be available at the Sierra View Chapel Thursday, January 9th, from 5 until 9 pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wounded Warriors Project.