Pearl Carpenter Morris

Pearl Carpenter Morris Nov. 10, 1920 - Jan. 20, 2011 Resident of Orinda, Ca, Pearl Carpenter Morris, age 90, died in her Orinda, California home Thursday, January 20, 2011. She was born November 10, 1920 in Bloomington, Utah to Alfred Aeschlimann and Elsie Larson Carpenter. Pearl often reflected fondly on her childhood years in the fields of Bloomington, Utah playing along the banks of the Virgin River with her siblings or under the shade of a tamarack tree while her mother did the laundry. She recalled her father working the broom fields or toiling in his shop, or occasionally joining them on a picnic at Picture Rock. She was often in the company of her older sister, Virginia, and they loved their time together whether it was playing paper dolls or off herding sheep all day with the help of the family dog. Her education began in a one-room schoolhouse with her sister, Eliza, as the teacher. She moved to St. George to continue her education and met her future husband, Merle Elgin Morris, while working on a degree at Dixie College. They were married on June 23, 1942 in the LDS St. George Temple. The war caused many moves for the young couple, and months of separation. But Pearl, with first child in tow, was finally able to join her husband who was stationed in Japan during the years of The Occupation. She gained a tremendous respect and appreciation for the Japanese people and culture while living there. She also gave birth to their second child. Back in the States, while Merle worked his way through the UCSF Dental School, she managed the household (eventually populated by six children) on a shoe-string budget, devoutly executed her duties as Relief Society President of the LDS Oakland 2nd Ward and found time to bake bread and do home canning. She gave birth to their seventh child after Merle had set up his dental practice and the family had moved to Orinda. Here also, she was able to develop her passion for gardening and ikebana and enjoyed her involvement in The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. On one bank of the yard she created a lovely succulent garden which also features a stunning collection of colorful rocks she had gathered over the years from annual trips back to Utah. Though she tremendously enjoyed accompanying her husband on extended work trips to Israel, Yugoslavia and Japan, and relished their excursions to Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden and the Caribbean, she seemed happiest to be visiting family in the many locations they now call home. And it was her dream to retire with Merle in Southern Utah. She is survived by her children Merle Elgin Morris, Jr. (Mel), Fort Worth, Texas; Linda Marie Morris, Orinda; Arlynn Morris Chen, Elk Grove; James Richard Morris, Emeryville; Lawrence Rodney Morris, Spring, Texas; and Jon Robert Morris, Vancouver, Washington. Her eldest daughter Victoria Ann Gould predeceased her by 16 years. Her husband or 68 years predeceased her by 10 months. She had nineteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 11am at the Moraga Ward Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3776 Via Granada, Lafayette where friends may call from 10:30 to 10:50 am prior to the services.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pearl Carpenter Morris, please visit our floral store.