JOHN WILLIAM MORRISSET
Patriot, Chapter 1919
Marine Corps,
Korea
John William Morrisset
passed into the arms of God on July 13, 2008. John is survived by Elizabeth
Morrisset, his wife of 57 years and by his three daughters, Louise, Nancy
and Brenda. John was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a
successful local businessman and was recognized as a leader in community
service activities in San Marcos.
Born October 23, 1931 in
Lubbock, Texas to L. B. and Anita Morrisset, John was the youngest of three
boys and graduated from Lubbock High School in May 1950. Missionaries from
Korea spoke at the church where John attended and told how desperately the
Koreans needed our help. John enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps August,
1950. His older brother, Wendell, was a USMC Captain serving on the USS
Midway in the Mediterranean and his young girl friend suggested that he
might want to join the Marine Corps and "grow up". John and Elizabeth (Beth)
Wileman Morrisset were married Dec. 3, 1950 during his Boot Camp leave.
He served in Korea (D
Co., 2nd Bn, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division) close to the 38th Parallel.
His unit went into reserve 4 May 1951 after the Regimental doctors told the
Corps CO that the 7th was no longer physically fit for line duty, 63 days on
the line. They were evacuated to Huachon to Easy Medical Co. "Over half of
what was left of Dog Company turned into sick bay. When they relieved us, we
were looking at the Huachon Reservoir." They were to return to the lines
after 3 or 4 days.
Morrisset was awarded the
Purple Heart for concussion and shrapnel injuries incurred after being blown
out of his foxhole 14 June 1951. Patched up by a MASH unit, he returned to
duty. Called to Red Cross headquarters and told of his father's critical
illness he was sent home. After a short leave with his parents, he received
a hardship transfer to NAS, Corpus Christi, Texas as his father was still in
critical condition. It was thought (not verified) that his unit was wiped
out after he left Korea. The Korean Service w/3*, UN Medal; Purple Heart
Medal, MC Good Conduct Medal 1st Award; National Defense service Ribbon; and
the Korean PUC are listed on his DD214.
He was discharged in
Corpus Christi and re-enlisted January 30, 1953 in the USMC Reserves. He was
transferred to the Inspector & Instructor Staff, 40th Special Infantry Co,
USMCR, Lubbock on the Texas Technological College campus working with
reserves. He was Honorably Discharged January 29, 1956 in Lubbock, Texas
having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.
After his discharge, John
attended Texas Tech and graduated in Jan. 1960 with his proud wife and two
older children present. Upon graduation he accepted a position with General
Mills in Wichita Falls, Texas and later with Humble Oil and Refining in Fort
Worth, Texas as a supervisor of Humble service stations in 1962. Humble,
later Enco, transferred John to Austin, Texas in Nov. of 1966. Enco
transferred John to Houston in 1970 to supervise Car Care Centers. Enco
became Exxon.
Because of a desire to be
self-employed, John and Beth purchased "Accents in Fashion" a clothing store
on the north side of the courthouse square in San Marcos in September of
1972 operating that store until the repeal of the "blue law" in 1983. After
selling Accents in Fashion, he built two houses in Spring River Estates. The
recession necessitated leaving the building industry. John worked for Gary
Job Corps as a recruiter/screener and public information specialist. He
retired from that position in January of 1997.
As a youth, John was an
active Boy Scout, earning Eagle Scout rank. John continued serving youth as
an adult becoming the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout troops in Wichita Falls, Fort
Worth, Tyler, Austin, and San Marcos. As a Scoutmaster, John earned the Wood
Badge award for adult leadership in Scouting. John's leadership example in
Scouting has continued by the grandsons who are also Eagle Scouts.
John was a pillar of the
San Marcos Lions Club, joining Lions in 1973 and keeping perfect attendance
for 35 years. John, with his wife Beth, organized the San Marcos Lioness
Club in 1984 and he was Club Liaison until the Lioness Club became
Bluebonnet Lions Club. John served as the Lions Club region chair and twice
as zone chair. John was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow in 1993, the highest
award to be given, by the Bluebonnet Lions Club. In June of 2008, he was
awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow by his own club. He was informed of the
award shortly before his death.
John and Beth, along with
Jodie Polk, reactivated the local Salvation Anny office and John worked as
Chair of the committee for about three years. John and Beth particularly
encouraged local volunteers to ring the bells at the "red kettles" for
Christmas fund-raising. In 2003 he was awarded the Harry Reasonover Award by
District 2S-3 for outstanding service, the highest award in the district.
John served as chair of
the San Marcos Downtown Revitalization Program under Mayor Emmie Craddock
and was appointed to chair the first San Marcos Master Plan Development
Committee. John served on the Chamber of Commerce, was active in the early
years of Chilympiad. He recently resigned from the Parks Board because of
ill health. In 2007 John and Beth received the "Spirit of San Marcos Award"
recognizing their community leadership in the San Marcos Area.
His wife of 57 years,
Elizabeth Morrisset and by his three daughters, Louise, Nancy, and Brenda
survives John. His two brothers, M. WENDELL, and Leslie M. Morrisset of
California and their families also survive him. Both his mother and father
predeceased John.
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