Gary L. Morris

Gary L. Morris, age 75, passed away at his home in Goshen on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Gary was born November 17, 1950, in Elkhart, Indiana, to the late William “Bill” and Beverly (Maust) Morris. He was a graduate of Elkhart High School and was later drafted into the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Corporal before his honorable discharge in 1972.

Gary is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Jill Morris; his daughters, Kari (Randy) Weaver of Texas and Leah (Scott) Pennington of Indiana; and his grandchildren, Brenden Weaver of Florida, Nathan Weaver of Texas, Haylee (Ryan) Mansbarger of Indiana, Cole (Brianna) Pennington of Indiana, and Ryan Weaver of Texas. Also surviving are his great-grandchildren, Dylan Weaver, Oscar and Owen Pennington, and Harper Mansbarger, along with his sister, Penney Morris. Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Connie Morris.

Gary began working as a camp counselor as a teenager before going to work for George Cooper at Elkhart Sportsman’s Enterprise. He later became part owner in a welding company in Elkhart and eventually joined CTS, where he completed an apprenticeship in tool and die. Gary worked at CTS for 16 years before a layoff led him to DePuy in Warsaw, Indiana, where he worked as a tool specialist. There he worked closely with engineers to develop new products with precision, including surgical gauges and robotic equipment used to perform multiple tasks. Gary was known for his ability to build or repair nearly anything with a little time and careful thought, often telling his family that he could figure out how to do just about anything. He also held both a real estate license and a broker’s license.

Gary was a caring and devoted family man who looked after his parents as they grew older. He visited his father daily, and after his father’s passing, he brought his mother to live with him and Jill so he could continue caring for her. He was generous with his time, naturally curious, and always eager to learn. A hard worker with a disciplined routine, Gary passed along many of those values to his daughters.

He also had a sense of adventure and enjoyed skydiving. Gary took great pride in maintaining his health and studied Taekwondo, joining the North American Taekwondo Association and earning his second-degree black belt and even instructing his daughter’s karate class. Through his guidance, his daughter went on to earn a gold medal in Taekwondo, and Gary proudly took the entire family to Tampa, Florida, to watch her compete in the national finals.

Outside of work, Gary enjoyed attending gun shows and participating in turkey shoots. He was a member of the Elkhart Harley-Davidson chapter and H.O.G. chapter and rode his 100th anniversary bike with fellow riders through the Badlands and to Washington, DC, for the Rolling to Remember ride honoring fallen military service members. Many of his travels took him across the country on extended motorcycle trips lasting several weeks at a time with close friends. Gary also loved animals and enjoyed the companionship of his pets, especially his dog.

Above all, Gary was devoted to his family. Nothing meant more to him than time spent with his wife, daughters, and his five grandchildren. He supported his daughters and his grandchildren in everything they did.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 pm on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Cruz Family Funeral Home in Osceola, with military honors and a celebration of life service to follow at 6 pm. We invite those unable to attend in person to join us for a livestream of the funeral service, so everyone can honor and remember Gary together by viewing his service in real time in the window below.

In his memory, donations may be made to the Republican National Committee at Republican National Convention or the Elkhart County Humane Society at Humane Society of Elkhart County.

To light a virtual candle, share a story of Gary’s life, or leave a message of comfort for his family, please follow the links provided on the Guestbook tab above.

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