Morris, Dr. Woodrow Wilbert

A great and gentle man drew his last breath on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011. Dr. Woodrow Wilbert Morris, 98, passed away at the Crestview Nursing Home in West Branch, Iowa. His body has been cremated. A memorial celebration of his life will be held later in October at the Preucil School of Music, North Campus, Iowa City.

Woody, also affectionately known by various other monikers such as “Morrie,” “Doc,” “W.W.” and “Professor,” was born on April 1, 1913, in Bay City, Mich., the first of four children born to Wilbert Willard Morris and Sarah Ann Stevens. He attended Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) at Ypsilanti, Mich., majoring in mathematics and philosophy/psychology, with a minor in political science. He completed his Ph.D. degree in psychology in 1949 from the University of Michigan and was awarded a Life Certificate and the Bachelor of Arts degree in April 1935. Over the course of a long and distinguished teaching career, he managed to teach at every grade level, from kindergarten to postgraduate school. He was truly a consummate educator.

Woody was also a clinical psychologist, earning a Master of Arts in psychology at the University of Michigan in 1939, and serving as the first psychologist at the Pontiac State Hospital in Michigan. His commission in 1943 as a psychologist in the U.S. Navy enabled him to serve successively at Naval Training Centers in San Diego, Calif.; Farragut, Idaho; and Bainbridge, Md.; and finally at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. After leaving the Navy, Woody returned to Ann Arbor, Mich., to continue graduate studies in psychology while simultaneously serving as director, Special Clinical Services, Bureau of Psychological Services, University of Michigan Institute for Human Development. He received his Ph.D. degree in psychology from Michigan in June 1949.

In 1948, Woody began his long tenure at The University of Iowa, where he served first as assistant professor of Psychology jointly in the Departments of Psychiatry of the College of Medicine and Psychology of the Graduate College, and as chief psychologist in the Psychopathic Hospital. In 1949, he became the first person to serve as assistant dean for Medical Student Affairs in the College of Medicine. His appointment in 1957 as director of the UI Institute of Gerontology allowed him to further his long-standing interest and pioneering efforts in the field of aging. Woody served on the boards of many nursing and retirement homes, including the Mayflower Home in Grinnell, Methwick Manor in Cedar Rapids, and the Oaknoll Retirement Residence and the Ecumenical Housing Corporation, both in Iowa City.

With the demise of the Institute in 1971, Woody became full time associate dean of the UI College of Medicine, a position he held until his retirement in 1983. After retirement, he continued to serve as adjunct professor in the UI School of Social Work and in the College of Nursing. He served on the boards of various community service organizations such as Elderly Services Agency, the Ecumenical Housing Corporation and the Visiting Nurses Association of Johnson County. He received numerous professional honors and awards, earning both statewide as well as national recognition through his appointments to the Iowa Commission on the Aging, the planning committees for two White House Conferences on Aging, a Presidential Task Force on Aging, A Citizen's Advisory Committee to the US Senate's Special Committee on Aging, and the Group of Medical Student Affairs of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Most recently, he was listed among the 150 people of influence in Iowa City's 150-year history.

At his side throughout all of his professional career was Woody's beloved first wife, Inabelle Hutchinson Wise, daughter of Anna Belle and Samuel Crawford Wise of Detroit, Mich. Their marriage took place on Dec. 24, 1936, and lasted until Inabelle's death in 1997.

Woody and Inabelle were very active in the Masonic Lodge. Woody served as Worshipful Master of Iowa City Masonic Lodge No. 4 in 1958; he served Iowa's Grand Lodge successively as Grand Marshal, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, and finally, in 1971-72, as Grand Master of Masons in Iowa. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Grand Charity Funds for more than 20 years.

Woody participated in other Masonic bodies, including the Order of the Eastern Star, the White Shrine of Jerusalem, Iowa City Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, the Council of Royal and Select Masters, the Commandery of Knights Templar, the Scottish Rite, the honorary Red Cross of Constantine, Acacia Fraternity, and the Honorary Legion of Honor in DeMolay. He also served Jessamine Chapter No. 135 and Bethlehem Shrine No. 8.

Retirement allowed Woody to continue his interests in photography and to develop new interests in raising bonsai and orchids. He also devoted himself to genealogical research, renewed his passion for solving crossword puzzles and found himself very lucky at playing cribbage, indeed!

Late in life, Woody found a new love, marrying Mary Anders, in Iowa City on Feb. 7, 1998. As one friend put it, Mary “added years to his life and life to his years.” Woody acquired his first passport at the age of 86, and happily traveled abroad for the first time. Together, Woody and Mary treasured the many friends they each brought to the relationship. Mary offers a profound nod of thanks to our core group of family and friends (you know who you are), who have given us so much love and support. We heap praise and gratitude on the many wonderful health care professionals involved with Woody's care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and at Iowa City Hospice. We also will be forever indebted to the compassionate staff at Crestview, who provided a new audience to appreciate his storytelling and made his final year as rich as all the others, To all who have touched our lives: we consider ourselves blessed by you. As Woody would say, “Peace.”

Woody was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Hal; his sister, Sallie McPharlin; two brothers-in-law, Vincent (“Mac”) McPharlin and Dr. Donald Bowne; and also by his first wife, Inabelle, as well as her sister and brothers and their respective spouses.

He is survived by his sister, Dorothy (“Dodie”) Bowne of Lynchburg, Va., his sister-in-law, Aileen Morris of Sarasota, Fla.; his second wife, Mary; her daughter, Mica Anders-Turner, husband Derek, and granddaughter Ruby, all of Minneapolis, Minn.; and his foster daughter, Mary Jane (“Janie”) Powers, husband Dave, of Ashland, Tenn., and their family.

Survivors also include numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Woodrow Morris Endowed Scholarship at the Preucil School of Music or to the College of Nursing through the University of Iowa Foundation.

Gay & Ciha Funeral Services is assisting in Woody's arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent through the web at gayandciha.com.