William L. Morris, Sr.

William L. Morris, Sr., age 84, of Bear, DE, passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by his family on Saturday, August 20, 2016. A native Delawarean, Bill was born in Wilmington on April 25, 1932, and was a son of the late Fred J. and Lillian D. (Phifer) Morris. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army. Bill made his career as a dockman in the oil industry, first with Tidewater Oil in Delaware City and later with Motiva Oil, retiring in 2001 after 45 years of dedicated service. Active in the fire community, he was a life member of Wilmington Manor Volunteer Fire Company where he served as Chief from 1973 until 1975 and also on the Board of Directors. Bill was awarded Chief Emeritus in 1975. He was a longtime member of the Delaware State Fire Chief’s Association and of Jackson Lodge No. 19 AF&AM in Delaware City. Bill was also a former member of the Felton Fire Company in Chester, PA. Above all else, he was a devoted and loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather and great grandfather who will be dearly missed by all who knew him. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Frederick J. Morris. He is survived by his beloved wife of 28 years, Deborah J. (Steele) Morris; children, William L. Morris, Jr. of Warwick, MD, Michael D. Morris (Patricia) of Sassafras, MD, Deborah Ellen Quaciari of Bear and Sandra D. Simpson (Robert) of Milford; stepchildren, Dawn M. Dresden (Robert) of Bear and Timothy J. Drain of North East, MD; 6 grandchildren; 1 great grandson. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 pm until 8 pm on Thursday evening, August 25, 2016 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, where a Masonic service will be held at 7:30 pm. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 pm on Friday afternoon, August 26, 2016, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the Wilmington Manor Fire Company, P.O. Box 645, New Castle, DE 19720.