Peyton Jones Morrison

Peyton Jones Morrison, age 88, of the Pansy Community, passed away Monday, October 15, 2007 at John L. McClellan Veterans Hospital in Little Rock. He was born September 23, 1919, at Pansy, a son of the late C.R. and Lucille Jones Morrison. Mr. Morrison was also preceded in death by one son, Matt Alva Morrison, three brothers, Hale, Homer and Angus Morrison; two sisters, Lala Spivey and Hazel Smith.

Mr. Morrison was reared and attended Gravel Ridge elementary school in Pansy. He graduated from Rison High School in 1938 where he was the quarterback for the football team and ran track with honors. He joined and served in the U.S. Coastguard from 1942-1945. After the war he returned home to Rison and was employed by the Elrod Company for 37 years.

He was a Christian and a lifetime member of the Prosperity United Methodist Church at Pansy. The church, under his grandfathers leadership, was originally built in the Herbine community. Later his father relocated the church to Pansy. Jones then led the building of the current church as stands today. He was a leader in church and many civic organizations such as the Gideons International; he was on the Cleveland County Hospital Board as president, served on the Cleveland County Farm Bureau as president and was the president of the founding board for the Highway 15 Rural Water Association. He and his family were chosen as the Farm Family of the Year in 1968 and was elected as the 2000th Tree Farm of Arkansas in 1970. He was a wonderful father, who shared his strong values and faith with his family daily. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and eating.

Mr. Morrison is survived by his wife of 56 years, Helen Shaw Morrison; three sons and daughters-in-law, Nick and Sandy Morrison, Rodney and Linda Morrison, Dan and LaDonna Morrison all of Pansy; two daughters and sons-in law Becky and Chris Rawls of Rison; and Cindy and Terry Thompson of Herbine; one sister Pauline Pintado of Hot Springs; ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at Prosperity United Methodist Church at Pansy with Brother Michael Gordon and Glen Morrison officiating. Burial will follow in the Pansy Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 16, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Prosperity United Methodist Church c/o Mike Stewart, 15750 Hwy 35S Rison, AR 71665 or to the Gideons International.

Pallbearers are his grandsons: Todd Morrison, Eric Rawls, Dave Morrison, Charles Morrison, Austin Thompson, Matt Morrison and Kyle Morrison.

Arrangements are under the direction of Buie Funeral Home of Rison (870) 325-6216.