Obituary

Memorial service for Nina Jo Thrash Morris will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, at Ninth and Columbia Church of Christ under the direction of Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Ministers Evan Weiss of Plainview, Brent Adams of Amarillo and Wayne Horton of Levelland will conduct the service. Burial will immediately follow in Plainview Memorial Park. Nina peacefully passed from this life on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer. Nina Jo Thrash Morris was born Feb. 14, 1935, in Odell, Texas, to BB and Elva Thrash. She grew up in Wilbarger County, attending schools in Chillicothe and Odell and graduating from Odell High School. Nina grew up on a farm and ranch and was associated with agriculture throughout her life. On Dec. 25, 1951, she married Ronald Morris, the love of her life. Together they farmed in Hardeman County. In 1958 they moved to Plainview, Texas, to begin a new business to the area, Plainview Acid Delinting. Nina worked in the office, which entailed a number of duties. This was the start of a life lived in Plainview. Later they owned and operated Macha Seed Company. She was a support to her husband in all of their business endeavors. After his death she continued to farm the dryland farm for a number of years before deciding that her short legs climbing in and out of the cab of large tractors was not in her best interest. Through church work and their two daughters' activities she became well acquainted with many people in the Plainview area. Nina devoted a large amount of her time to service to others in many different ways. Foremost was her love of God. She was a faithful member of Ninth and Columbia Church of Christ where she was a Bible school teacher of first and second grade for many years. She was a supervisor of the elementary department numerous times and taught many years in vacation Bible school. Along with the work she did with children, she was involved in preparing many meals for families with loss of loved ones, various church dinners and other events of the church. Nina was a worker and always did her part to provide what she could to those in need. She went on a number of mission trips, helped with various local outreach projects and sponsored numerous youth functions. In raising two daughters, Vicki and Vanessa with her husband, Ronald, she had the opportunity to serve as room mother for both daughters for several years in their classes. Throughout her daughters' educations, she was active in PTA, an adult leader in Girl Scouts and an avid band booster. All of these activities involved a great deal of hands-on work which she was more than happy to do. Nina also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In March 1986 she became Hale County commissioner of Precinct 1 and served several terms until her retirement in 1997. During her time as commissioner, Nina was involved in many projects that brought improvement to a number of facilities in Hale County. The Hale County jail was expanded to meet the growing need for more space, the Ollie Liner Center was given a major facelift and the 911 system was upgraded throughout the county for telephone numbers to be on the grid to match an address of a caller in distress. Nina had a number of interests that changed as her family changed. She sewed for her daughters as well as others. As the grandkids came into her life, she was always a supporter of their various activities. She was there to encourage each at plays, band concerts, orchestra concerts, Cub Scout functions, basketball, T-ball, baseball and football from the beginning ages through high school, making not only the in-town games but most of the out-of-town ones as well. Her home was open to the neighborhood kids when the girls were young. As they grew, the number of activities in the Morris home grew as well as various Sunday school parties were hosted in her home. Friends were frequent around her table as well as strangers; no one ever went away hungry. She was a charter member of the LaCasa Club, holding numerous officer positions through the years. Again, these ladies were frequently in her home. "42" became an interest and again her home was the location for the 42 Club to meet from time to time. Numerous baby and wedding showers were held in her home. Nina is survived by her daughters, Vicki Green (husband Jett) and Vanessa Brown (husband David); four grandchildren, Eric Green, Erin Green, Landon Brown and Lauren Brown; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Tommy Thrash of Lubbock and Don Thrash of Lubbock; and four sister-in-laws that she loved as her sisters, Etoy Chapman of Iowa Park, LaNeta McLain (husband Gene) of Plainview, Kitty Umstot (husband Richard) of Lubbock and Cecelia Morris of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Morris, her parents, BB and Elva Thrash; her in-laws, Harpie and Oleta Morris; and her sister, Dorothy Jones. The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial in honor of Nina Morris do so to the New Mexico Children's Home, 1356 NM 236 , Portales, NM 88130.