Russell “Val” Morris

Russell Val Morris left this mortal world on Friday, January 3, 2025, in Providence, Utah, only days after being surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at a holiday reunion.

Val was born on November 4, 1942 to Russell Henry Morris and Dorothy Mae (“Betty”) Knox at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the oldest of six children, and grew up in the Rose Park neighborhood of Salt Lake City. His siblings remember him as a loving brother who took good care of them. Val’s life-long love of cars—and, particularly, his devotion to General Motors cars—took root at an early age, and his cars were a steadfast passion to the end. In his final weeks, as he transitioned to an assisted care facility, his primary complaint was that his new accommodations lacked even a carport where he could keep his truck close.

Val joined the Army National Guard after graduating from West High School in Salt Lake in 1960. He served honorably for six years before beginning a career in purchasing. Over his career, he worked for Sperry Univac and Boeing.

In 1979, Val met Pamela (Jenkins) King, who had been tragically widowed five years earlier with four young children. Val and Pam were married on June 12, 1981, instantly making Val the patriarch of a family of six, with children 15, 13, 9 and 7 His children remember fondly that Val was generous and kind, and brought stability and happiness into their home. One can only imagine the challenges of adapting from life as a single, successful man, to becoming a father to four, young children, but Val was equal to the task. His legacy of four children, sixteen grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren (and growing) all stem from the choice to become a husband and dad in a full, noisy, little home nearly 45 years ago.

Val was preceded in death by his father, Russell, his mother Betty, and two brothers, Tim and Brent. He is survived by many, by whom he will be missed and fondly remembered: his wife Pam; his daughter Kimberly (Doug) Stevenson; his daughter Julie (Dan) Garrison; his son Kip (Susan) King; his daughter Andrea (Joe) Lunt; his brother Stephen (Jill) Morris; sister Susan (Kent) Casper; sister Joan Allen; and sixteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Friday, January 10th in Logan, Utah at Allen-Hall Mortuary 34 E. Center St. from 6-7 pm. Val’s funeral will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel in West Valley City, Utah located at 2976 West Winchester Drive on Saturday, January 11th at 11:00 am and a viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 am. Interment will be at the Valley View Cemetery at 4335 W. 4100 S. West Valley City, Utah 84120.

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