Billie Ruth Morris

Services for Billie Ruth Morris, 83, of Gainesville, are set for 4 p.m. Thursday Dec. 11, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, with the Rev. Don Yeager officiating.

A reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall.

Mrs. Morris died Dec. 9, 2008, at her residence in Plano.

Billie Ruth (Edgington) Morris was born in Greenville to Ruth and W. O. Edgington. She graduated from Gainesville High School in 1942. She married Fletcher E. Morris in 1943. Billie, along with her mother and aunt, ran the Town & Country Play School for ten years. She was involved in the Eastern Star, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, and later with the Cooke County Arts Council.

She and Mayor Margaret Hays originated Depot Days and were in charge of all the festivities until it was turned over to local civic organizations.

After Fletcher’s death, she married Fred Lausen. They spent ten wonderful years traveling throughout the world. She was known for her uniting civic work and unselfish philanthropy.

She is survived by son, Frank Morris and wife Janet of Gainesville; Alice Ruth Guffee and husband Lynn of Parker; grandchildren, Ryan Morris and wife Christy, Meredith McLeod and husband Trey, Georganna Saunders and husband Bill and Regina Bowling; great-grandchildren, Andrea Bowling, Michelle Bowling, Fletcher Johnson, Will Saunders, Bay and Meg Morris, and Ava Mae McLeod.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Fletcher Morris and Fred Lausen; older sister, Mary Kate Wausen and her parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cooke Country Home Hospice, P.O. Box 936, Gainesville, TX 76241-0936.