This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Morris, Cobia, Derbyshire
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/XQB.2ACE/149
Message Board Post:
Our beloved husband, father and grandpa, Elliot Cobia Newberry Morris left us Sept. 20,
2005 to return to the arms of his Heavenly Father. Born June 24, 1926 in Ely, Nevada to
James William and Mary Loree (Cobia) Morris, he was the youngest of nine children. A World
War II veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in the campaign to liberate the Philippines and
in the occupation of Japan. He married his sweetheart and eternal companion, Margaret
Derbyshire in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on January 6, 1950. Elliot earned bachelors and
masters degrees in geology from the University of Utah and a Ph.D from Stanford
University. He was employed for 30 years for the U.S. Geological Survey, twenty-five of
those in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was immersed in scientific research connected with
NASA's Ranger, Surveyor, Apollo, and Mars Viking missions. Upon retiring, he and
Margaret moved to Stansbury Park. He was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Elliot served as !
a full-time missionary for the Church in the Eastern States Mission and later in life,
with his wife, in the Massachusetts Boston Mission. Other church callings included
counselor in the Flagstaff Arizona Stake Presidency, Bishop, and Explorer Scout Leader.
His testimony of the restored gospel never wavered. He was able to find a perfect balance
between faith and scientific inquiry, never doubting God's hand in the great mysteries
of the universe he loved to study and contemplate. He is survived by his wife Margaret;
son Elliot Kimball (Doris), Stansbury Park, UT; daughters Loree, Salt Lake City, UT and
Nancy Ann Pollini (Gianluca), Swaffham Prior, England; brothers William Wendell, Salt Lake
City and Reuben Curtis, Montevallo, AL; sister Anna Buckwalter, Oceanside, CA; and by
eight granddaughters and one grandson-in-law. Viewing's and funeral services will be
held at the LDS Stake Center located at 417 E. Benson Rd., Stansbury Park, Utah (across
the road from the historic !
Benson Grist Mill on State hwy 138). Viewing will be Sunday, Sept. 25,
2005 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Funeral
Services will be Monday, September 26, 2005 at 12 Noon. Interment following the funeral
will be at Redwood Memorial Cemetery, 6500 So. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, Utah.
Arrangements under the care of Greer's Mortuary of Winslow, AZ & Walker Mortuary,
Morgan, UT Condolences may be sent at
www.walker-mortuary.com The family expresses their
deep appreciation to the nurses and staff of Vista Care Hospice.
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 9/23/2005.