Obituary
Charles Dale Morris passed away on October 18, 2023 at the age of 84 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest. To know him was to love him, which is probably why everyone had their own names for him - Bud, Moose, Chuck & Pop were some of his most loved nicknames.
Bud was the son of Ellen Danuser Morris and Charles Wesley Morris. He was born at home on December 9, 1938 on the family farm in Montreal, Missouri. He grew up the baby of thirteen siblings who he adored - Ida, Artie, Donnie, Bessie, Jim, Maudie, Willard, Mary, Elizabeth, Lorene “Hoppity”, Grace “Eenie”, and Estelle. Bud’s family grew up without electricity or running water in a small single room cabin and they used a buckboard horse drawn wagon to get to town. Never content to let being the youngest stop him, he learned how to provide for his family through hunting, living off the land and good old fashioned hard work. Bud’s life was not always easy, but he made the most of everything he had. He could do anything thanks to his grit, tenacity & natural ability to make a deal with anyone.
Bud attended a one room schoolhouse in Freedom, Missouri through eighth grade. He was known for going into school early to start the wood stove & could often be found carrying his niece, Joyce, to school when she was too tiny to walk on her own. Bud graduated from Camdenton High School with the class of 1956. Directly after graduation, he joined the United States Navy as a Gunner’s Mate and served on the USS Saint Paul. Bud was proud to serve his country - he loved the American flag and all the veterans who served.
While he was stationed at Long Beach Naval Station & Shipyard in California, Bud met Dale Jean Ross, his beloved Effie, who he fell madly in love with. They married on December 6, 1958 in Highland Park, California. Shortly after, their love continued to grow as they brought three children into the world: Susan Molly, Charles Howard “Chip”, and Sandra Ellen. They raised their kids on a farm in Linn Creek, Missouri and then spent many years living at Lake of the Ozarks in the Camden County area. Throughout the years, it was common for Bud and his family to have a variety of pets around the house. He had an infectious love & compassion for all living things, which is why he was known to bring home wild animals to rehab at his house. In addition to the dogs he loved over the years, he had a pet raccoon (Bandit), a skunk (Flower), an opossum (Sherry), three squirrels (Zeb, Tuttiwham & Tinkerbell), and many others.
When it came to the outdoors, Bud was the guy who could do it all. He was an incredible fisherman and it was most likely you’d find him on the dock or in the boat if the weather was right. He never missed an opportunity to go hunting - whether for deer, squirrels, mushrooms or arrowheads. Bud knew that life was meant to be filled with family, friends, laughter, and adventures. He packed as much as he could into each day and constantly pursued his passions. When he wasn’t on the lake or in the woods, you’d often find Bud sitting in the garage doing some wood carving or telling stories. Those who didn’t know him well would often be unsure if the stories were factual because they were all unbelievable - but trust us, they were all true. Many people were drawn to his magnetic personality & funny one-liners that would keep everyone on their toes. There was nothing better than sitting on the porch with his pipe, an ice cold Milwaukee’s Best & one of his loyal dogs laying at his feet.
Bud found value in the simple joys in life and made sure to teach his kids and grandkids everything he possibly could. All of his family & friends can likely name a handful of skills Pop taught them and will continue to live life the same way he did. He took impeccable care of everything he had - including his loved ones. Bud was a loyal friend and would do anything to protect the people he loved, no matter what. He found a solution for everything and his family always admired his ability to fix anything through his ingenuity. If there was a way, you could just ask Pop.
Charles is survived by his wife, Dale Morris; his children Susan Tharp (Lee), Sandy Panetta (Vic) and Chip Morris (Kim); his grandkids who considered “Pop” to be their hero - Tyler Tharp (Rebecca), Casie Brower (Devan), Tanner Tharp, Antonio Panetta (Erin) and Carrie Ludlow (Jonathon); his beloved great grandkids who adored him - Charlee, Austen, Brynn and Jesse; and so many other cherished family, friends & fishing buddies. He also leaves behind his beautiful dog, Ellie, who reminds us all that dogs truly are man’s best friend. Pop thought she was a dandy. Bud was preceded in death by both parents, all of his siblings, and many other family and friends who have been waiting for him in Heaven.
There will be a private celebration of life for the immediate family on Friday, October 20. A benefit/memorial luncheon will be held in Camdenton on Saturday, October 28 from 11am to 2pm at The Butcher Shop.
If you wish to honor Bud, we encourage you to spend some time outdoors with the people you love. Share stories, say what’s on your mind & always keep your family close - just because life is short doesn’t mean we can’t pack it full of as many memories as possible.