Pauline Morris

Pauline was born November 4th, 1919, the second daughter of Joe and Marie (Francy) Blair. The Blair family lived in the town of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Pauline attended school in Broken Arrow and graduated in 1937. When she turned 19, she was swept off her feet by a handsome young cowboy from Idaho named Layton Morris. Pauline left her beloved family and married Layton on December 12,1939 in Pocatello, Idaho. They celebrated their honeymoon hand milking their small herd of cows, and thus began their journey of life together. The happy couple settled in a log house in American Falls, Idaho where they started their family. They marketed their milk and cream on a milk route. Hard work and dedication was the rule they lived by throughout their life together. Nothing came easy during this era of tough times, but as Pauline delivered her twin daughters, Lorene and Florene, faith, love, and persistence would carry them through.
Layton lived close to the land, and always worked with cattle and horses, fulfilling his cowboy roots. The young family moved to Pocatello where Pauline, pregnant with Linda, got homesick for family in Oklahoma. She gathered her twin babies and traveled by train back home for a visit. Linda was born after she returned to Pocatello. Layton worked at a gun plant during this time, and Pauline continued to tend to her family.
They later moved to Black Rock where they worked their ranch and dairy. Layton was injured during this time and lost 2 fingers in an accident. This put additional hardship on Pauline. The injury and responsibility to his family prevented Layton from fighting in World War II, but he got to witness the birth of their first son, Johnny. Two years later they were blessed with a darling daughter, Joy.
Eventually they moved to a ranch in Mink Creek. While their house was being built, Pauline and her young family camped in a one room garage for 6 months. The family then moved to the garage and utility room of their new house until the house was finished. Layton supplemented the ranch by landscaping and hauling "black dirt". Rickey was born during this time, completing the Morris family.
Layton sold their new house in Mink Creek and bought a dry farm in Rockland where the family lived in a 2 bedroom apartment in the top of a quonset hut. They also bought a ranch on Rock Creek. The kids attended school in American Falls, so Layton built a house in town for winter, and they spent the summers in Rockland. Eventually the family moved to a new home Layton built on a ranch west of American Falls where they milked cows and raised beef cattle. Pauline had a passion for chickens, and started an egg business with 300 laying hens. Her egg route and Layton's income from the Lamb Weston Plant supplemented the ranch and kids. When Layton retired, they sold the ranch and moved to town where they spent over 3 decades enjoying their journey. Layton, the love of Pauline's life, passed away in 1997.
Pauline always tended a large garden and provided for her family and guests with the produce she preserved. She was an accomplished seamstress, and made most of the girls' clothes. Her butterscotch pies were in great demand, and her homemade bread was legendary. If you knew Pauline, you experienced her bread, which she shared with everyone. Pauline worked 25 years during potato harvest in quality control for Zimmerman Farms, and was on the Senior Citizen Board. She spent several years as a "Pink Lady" at the hospital, helping the "old people", many of which were younger than herself. For Pauline, old was only a state of mind. But Pauline's most notable accomplishment was her dedication to her faith in Jesus. She diligently attended the Assembly of God Church and taught Sunday School for 63 years. Many of you, young and old, who read this can boast of learning about the bible from Pauline's Sunday School classes.
Family was everything to Pauline. She treasured her time spent with her children, grandkids, great- grandkids, and extended family. Pauline was all about love. If Pauline knew you, you could count on her prayers. The final three years of her life were spent in the Power County Nursing Home in American Falls. Pauline continued to brighten the world around her, and commented that "If I can't be in my home, this is a good place to be." The family extends thanks to all who cared for her during this time.
Pauline was the last of her siblings. At age 92, she outlived her older sister June Bickel, younger sister Betty Smith, and younger brother Billie Blair. Survivors include her children Lorene (David) Zimmerman of American Falls, Idaho; Florene (Jim) Steen of Twin Falls, Idaho; Linda (Jim) Jacobson of Black Diamond, Washington; Johnny (Trudy) Morris of Midvale, Idaho; Joy (Larry) Ranstrom of Pocatello, Idaho; Rickey (Carol) Morris of Council, Idaho, and Ralph Richard of Inkom, Idaho. She has16 grandchildren, 39 great- grandchildren. 8 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Pauline left us March 26. 2012.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, April 2, 2012 at the American Falls Christian Fellowship in American Falls.
The visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, April 1st and Monday, April 2nd from 10-11 a.m. at Davis–Rose Mortuary, 170 Idaho St., American Falls.
Memorials can be made to American Falls Christian Fellowship, 329 Harrison Street, American Falls, Idaho 83211.
Pauline's colorful life spanned an extraordinary era. At her birth Jesse James and Wyatt Earp were alive; farming and transportation were still done with horses. She got to witness man walking on the moon, television, and travel and communication devices beyond description. Through all this change, one thing remained constant in Pauline's life; her unconditional love. May each of us who have been enriched by Pauline's example share that love with those around us. Nothing would make Pauline happier than this.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.davisrosemortuary.com.