Jocelyn (Joc) Ruth Morris

Jocelyn (Joc) Ruth Morris Jocelyn (Joc) Ruth Morris took the hand of Jesus and went home on March 11, 2015. She was born Jocelyn Ruth Geiser in Montevideo, MN on November 10, 1944, the daughter of Dale Robert and Ruth Minnietta (Gelle) Geiser. She was very proud of the fact that she shared a birthday with the U.S. Marine Corps and that she had been dubbed an honorary BAM Sergeant Major by some Marine Viet Nam veteran friends. Oorah!! Jocelyn grew up in Fairview, and then later, Wahpeton, ND. She graduated with the Wahpeton High school class of 1962 where she was a varsity cheerleader and reporter for the school newspaper. She then attended the North Dakota State School of Science at Wahpeton, majoring in physical education. She was briefly married to a fellow student, Loren Pekas, and moved with him to his family ranch in western North Dakota, near Regent. On September 8, 1972, she married Fred Morris in Dickinson, ND and then in 1974 moved to Norman, OK so Fred could complete a previously started degree at the University of Oklahoma. While living in Norman, Jocelyn became a huge fan of anything to do with Oklahoma Sooner football, especially the 1978 Heisman trophy winner Billy Sims. In 1977, the family moved to Bartlesville, OK where they have since resided. Jocelyn was a homemaker for her own family, and a surrogate “Mom” for many of her own children’s’ friends whose mothers worked outside the home. It was not wise to say anything like “someone being just a housewife” in her presence. Joc would quickly let the offender know that hers was the hardest job around. She excelled at it and was the prime force behind the education and success of her four children. Joc was alternately raised both Catholic and Lutheran, but in her adult years embraced no particular religious affiliation. She only knew that she loved Jesus, and enjoyed many hours reading her Bible. She was an avid gardener, and was always proud of having one of the nicest yards on the block. She also crocheted many Afghans for family and friends, worked literally thousands of picture puzzles and was a voracious reader. She loved to travel, particularly to the ocean. She loved music of all kinds and had an iPod full of one of the most eclectic collections around. She wasn’t real fond of the previous generation’s music though. She and her mother had many heated discussions on the relative merits of Big Band versus Rock and Roll. She was beset by a variety of illnesses beginning in her 60’s, and when these made it difficult or even impossible to do the things she had previously enjoyed, she discovered a new passion playing the slot machines and making new friends at the Osage Casino. Like Will Rogers, she was an instant friend to everyone she met. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, and a brother John. She is survived by her husband Fred of 42 years, daughters Wendy (John) Stamp of Broken Arrow, Nicki (Jon) Everhart of Arvada, CO, sons Damian (Colette) of Broken Arrow and Michael (Denise) of Hot Springs, AR. Also by grandchildren Ashley (Trevor) Kohlhepp, Jeremie Tuller, Raul Lazcano , Chelsea Tuller, Keaton Stamp, Garrett Dugan, Sierra Stamp, Michael Morris and Deylon Morris, as well as one great grandchild Tayven Tuller. Also sisters Michal (Charles) Long of New Iberia, LA, Natalie (Marty) Multymyr of Fargo, ND and brother Tom Geiser (Greg) Jacobson of Fergus Falls, MN. Informal, non-denominational services led by Cliff Sousa will be held at the Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel at 10:00 A.M., Monday, March 16, 2015. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with family will be at the Stumpff Funeral Home on Sunday, March 15, 2015 with the family present from 2:00-4:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Elder Care of Bartlesville, 1223 Swan Drive, Bartlesville, Okla., 74006, the Salvation Army, 101 N. Bucy, Bartlesville, Okla, 74003 or a charity of the donor’s choice. PDF Printable Version

Jocelyn (Joc) Ruth Morris

November 10, 1944 - March 11, 2015