James William Morrell
July 25, 1924 - June 5, 2010James
William Morrell, 85, died peacefully at home in Redding, Calif.,
on June 5, 2010. He was born in Portland, Ore., on July 25,
1924, to William and Margaret Allen Morrell, the youngest of
four children. He grew up in Portland until he joined the
military in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army at the end of World
War II, then in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot during the Korean
War. While he was in the Air Force in Arizona, he met and
married the love of his life, Eula Faye Noble on Jan. 9, 1951.
Together they raised one daughter, Janis Morrell Davidson of
Hyrun, Utah, and four sons, Michael of Blue Lake, Calif.;
Steven, of New York City, N.Y.; Jeffry and Donald of Vacaville,
Calif.
He was a pilot for United Airlines for 29 years. Prior to his
move to Redding in 2003, he lived in the English Hills area of
Vacaville for 32 years, where in his spare time he played
"gentleman farmer." After retiring, he traveled widely with his
wife and enjoyed his family.
James is survived by his wife and their children; plus 22
grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two expected
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jesse and
Ray; one sister, Mildred Morrell Dienes; a grandson, Cory
Davidson; and a nephew, Randy Shoptaw.
A memorial service will be held in Redding today. A family
graveside service will by held on Friday, June 11 at the
Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery, followed by a memorial
service at 1 p.m. at the Latter-day Saints Chapel at 480
Wrentham Drive, Vacaville, Calif.
Published in The Reporter [Vacaville, CA] on June
9, 2010 |
Flag Presentation
The flag which had draped James Morrell's
casket was presented to his widow, Mrs. Eula Morrell. by three
grandsons. Pictured are: [l-r] Sean Morrell, 2nd
Lieutenant Royal Norwegian
Air Force currently at the NATO flight training center Sheppard
AFB, Texas; Jacob Morrell, Petty Officer 1st Class U.S. Navy
Seal Team 10; and, Josh Morrell, Petty Officer 2nd Class U.S.
Navy diver stationed in San Diego, California.
Three of the Morrell sons are
military veterans. Michael was a helicopter crew chief
with the 1st Brigade Headquarters Company, 82nd Airborne. Steven was an F15 pilot in the Air Force
and Donald was in Army intelligence in Europe. |
(Courtesy of Jeffrey Morrell)
Grave marker for James W. Morrell in the
Sacramento Valley National Cemetery,
Dixon
(Solano County),
California.
James served in Company G during the Ardennes
campaign and transitioned to the newly formed Air Force when it
became a separate branch of service.
He became a
commissioned officer and a pilot serving during the Korean Conflict as well. |