Just a week shy of her 100th birthday, Orita Morrison died November 7, 2009 at Panola Nursing Home after a long and happy life. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, E. B. Morrison, and brother Lawrence Bigger. She is survived by her son, Dr. Ed Morrison and wife Ellie of Waco, two grandchildren, Dr. Mary Morrison of San Marcos and Evan Morrison and wife Mandy of Waco, and great-grandchildren, Eric and Meg Morrison. She is also survived by her sisters, Juanita Cobb of Mt. Pleasant and Mary Gholston of Carthage, numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Also surviving are loving caregivers, Ms. Texas Endsley, Mrs. Johnny Kuykendall, Mrs. Maurine Hardy and Mrs. Corrine Kelley.

Mrs. Morrison was born in Titus County to Auzzie Lee and Reverend Marvin Bigger. She graduated from Marshall High School and went to Lon Morris College and Stephen F. Austin University. There she applied for both a music and drama scholarship. She won the drama scholarship and that forged the direction of her life's work and touched so many others'. After graduation she came to Carthage in 1929 to teach elementary school where she met and married E. B. Morrison. Together they worked in education all of their careers though with different avenues of interest. Both were successful at the state level, he in sports and she in speech and drama.

Mrs. Morrison believed strongly in the importance of education. She spent many summers at Texas University studying English and drama with numerous additional hours past her master's from Stephen F. Austin. The Orita and E.B. Morrison Scholarship at Panola College was established to honor both of them. After family, Mrs. Morrison loved most her ex-students who became teachers.

Mrs. Morrison and her students won state championships eleven times in one-act plays, and speech and drama activities during her career as a high school teacher in Cuero, TX and Carthage. She then joined the faculty of Panola College where she worked until she retired in 1974. She directed numerous plays in her career—everything from comedies and musicals to Shakespeare. In addition to school productions, Mrs. Morrison brought her talents to the Carthage Village Players. The Players were a group of volunteers who brought the magic of theater to Carthegians from 1929 until 1974. She loved it all. In 1988 she was asked if there was any play she would still like to do. A quick and ready answer was "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Mrs. Morrison loved life, her family and friends and her students. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, Sunday school teacher of the Gleaners' Class and choir member for many years and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary teacher's organization, and the Carthage Book Club.

On her final exam, Orita made a hundred.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Thomasson, Bro. Freddy Mason, and Rev. Artie Hardy officiating. Interment will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

The family would like to thank Dr. Royce Hill for the loving care shown to Mrs. Morrison during her illness.

If desired, memorials may be made to the E.B. and Orita Morrison Scholarship Fund at Panola College, 1109 W. Panola, Carthage, TX 75633 or the First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.