J Morris Johnson

J. Morris Johnson

March 16, 1937-March 18, 2025

The family of Morris Johnson wishes to share the news with his colleagues, the community and former students that he has died.

Morris was the only surviving child of Carl T. and Fannie M. Johnson of Bruneau, Idaho. He was the epitome of "it takes a village to raise a child." The whole of the Bruneau and Grandview area had a hand in making Morris the man he would become, especially the Lahtinens and the Cunninghams. Morris had an idyllic rural childhood. He grew up on a farm that his father homesteaded. There were lots of fish in Jacks Creek and plenty of ducks on the pond plus pheasants and rabbits to hunt. The farm was planted to alfalfa and Morris helped bring in hay and seed there and on neighboring places.

Morris had plenty of King cousins scattered throughout southwestern Idaho. In fact, if you had any connection with this corner of Idaho, he would probably make an acquaintance for you through those cousins. Morris was proud of where he grew up.

Morris graduated from Grandview High School in 1955 in a class of twelve. He was well prepared for the rigorous courses at the College of Idaho by his teachers who took a special interest in him. Prior to college, he had some practice being out on his own during the session he was a page for the Idaho legislator in Boise. While at the College of Idaho, Morris met his wife of 65 years, Margaret Horton. They were lab partners in general zoology class. Morris graduated from the College of Idaho in June 1959 and married Margaret the next weekend. Morris and Margaret then moved to Corvallis, Oregon where they were students at Oregon State University. Morris worked in the herbarium. His master's degree project was to survey the botany and ecology of Black Butte in Central Oregon. Morris and Margaret camped out on the Butte while he was making his inventory.

His doctoral work in the study of cell biology was a particularly stimulating time for Morris. After completing his Ph.D., Morris accepted his first professorship at Central College in Pella, IA in 1964. He took a break from teaching at central in 1965-66 to take a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago to work on their electron microscope on his theory of the purpose or nuclear vacuoles. Morris was proud of the contributions his research made in the field of cell biology. He continued this research while on sabbatical at the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center in Lake Placid, NY during 1978. In 1991, Morris had another enriching experience as an exchange professor for a semester at the University of Tasmania in Launceston, Australia.

After five years in the Midwest, Morris and Margaret were anxious to return to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to mountains, beaches and their family. In 1969, they moved to Monmouth, Oregon to take a position at Western Oregon University where he would teach biology and botany. Morris was never happier than when he was advising students or leading field trips. He was instrumental in the development of the Interdisciplinary Studies degree, the Honors Program and Phi Kappa Phi. Morris also served as the Natural Sciences and Math department chairman from 1986 to 1993. He was quite happy to have Bryan Dutton, one of the students he mentored, filled his position at Western Oregon University when he retired in 1998 after 29 years of teaching.

Morris was given many awards. There were three that particularly honored him. They were the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America for his many years as Polk District Chairman. A Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Idaho for outstanding professional accomplishments and service to his community. In addition, a Faculty Honors Award from Western Oregon University for his outstanding research in cell biology.

Morris was dedicated to serving his community. Among his main volunteer activities were the first chairman of the Gilbert House Children's Museum. He was active in the Monmouth- independence Rotary Club, especially with the strawberry sale and the 4th of July parade. He also worked with Mrs. Pat Jaffer as treasurer of the Ella Curran Food Bank from 2004 until 2019.

And, then there was his garden. Morris was a yearly exhibitor at the Polk County Fair with his vegetables. He also took much enjoyment from being able to give the produce away. He kept Margaret well supplied with fruits and vegetables to preserve. Over the years he won many blue ribbons.

Retirement also meant that he could go fishing more often. Morris was very lucky to have a fishing buddy in Deke Meyer. He and Morris often went float fishing on the Willamette River. Deke was a good friend. They enjoyed each other's company on many fishing trips. Morris also took great delight in taking his grandsons Carl and Porter fishing in local ponds. Morris and a colleague, Bob Main, also had a pond which they stocked with trout. They had a lot of fun fishing adventures including a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kamchatka, Russia.

Surviving Morris are his wife, Margaret, daughter, Mori, son Steve (Mary) and grandsons, Carl (Kandy) and Porter.

Memorials may be made to the Western Oregon University Foundation's Morris and Margaret Johnson scholarship fund or a charity of your choice. A memorial is planned for May 10th, 2025 2:00 PM in the Monmouth Senior Center.