Steven “Skipper Steve” Ross Morris

Steven “Skipper Steve” Ross Morris, of Post Falls, Idaho, passed away at Kootenai Health’s hospital in Coeur dáAlene, Idaho, on Sunday evening, February 20, 2022. Steve was being visited and comforted by family members in the hospital and over the phone at his passing. He was 73 years old.

Steve was born in Grand Junction, Colorado, on July 19, 1948. He was the only child of Dale W. “Spider” Morris and Wilberta Lee Willis.

He attended Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1966 to 1972, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications degree. Steve served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his college years in Palmyra, New York. He spoke fondly about adventure-filled weekends catching freight trains with his friends during college.

Steve married LaVerne Lucille Hanson on February 8, 1974. The couple later divorced in 1980. Steve and LaVerne had two children, Julie Ann Morris (Davis) and Craig Steven Morris, during their marriage. Steve’s entire career was in the nonprofit field, starting in 1974 when he got his first job raising money for the March of Dimes in Western Washington. He then worked for Cardio-Pulmonary Research in Seattle before moving to Utah to work for the American Lung Association in Salt Lake City.

Steve married Carla Mittelstadt on November 12, 1982. The couple later divorced in 2006. Steve and Carla had three children, Brittany Anne Morris, Sterling Ross Morris, and Allison Jean Morris, during their marriage.

Steve earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from BYU from 1983 to 1985 while leading fundraising efforts for the March of Dimes in a 9-state region including Utah.

During his professional years, he began raising money for LDS Philanthropies in support of his alma mater, BYU, as the director of foundation relations in 1999. He continued his role until he retired in 2013. During his time in that role, he raised funds for the Royden G. Derrick Planetarium, the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center, and many endowed scholarships to support students in the BYU McKay School of Education and the BYU College of Humanities. He was a BYU baseball fan and helped raise funds to support Miller Park, its scoreboard, and funding to allow fans to keep the foul balls they catch during games.

He started the USU and BYU Sailing clubs at each university and invested time and energy supporting college students interested in the sport. In addition, Steve taught sailing classes at BYU in the spring and summer. He merged the BYU Sailing Club with the Utah Lake Yacht Club in 2009 and helped organize and volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America Sea Scout SSS Neptune unit.

Steve married Linda Loreida “Lori” Bond on September 16, 2009. After retiring, Steve and Lori moved to Coeur dáAlene, Idaho, where they enjoyed their retirement together. He was often found sailing Esprit de Coeur, his Ericson 27 on Lake Coeur d’Alene. He and Lori grew their family’s nautical chart wallpaper business during retirement, helping households and businesses all over the country install maps of their favorite nautical passageways.

Throughout his life, Steve was quick-witted, enjoyed making people laugh, and loved to listen to 1960s-era music. He enjoyed giving people nicknames, and many called him Skipper Steve. He appreciated seeing patterns in numbers and would have been happy to know his death was on the memorable date of 02/20/2022.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016. However, he maintained a positive attitude throughout his battle with the disease. He continued to enjoy an active retirement full of reading, spending time with loved ones, and watching or listening to every Seattle Mariners’ baseball game. He frequently expressed gratitude for his life, love for his family, and a general sense of wonder for the world. He made sure all who visited him felt welcome.

The family will hold a memorial service at noon in Steve’s honor on Tuesday, March 1, at Bell Tower Funeral Home, 3398 E Jenalan Ave, Post Falls, Idaho.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Dale W. “Spider” Morris, his mother, Wilberta Willis, and his stepson, David Brent Bennion.

Steve will be missed by his wife, Linda Loreida “Lori” Morris of Post Falls, ID, stepdaughter Debbie (Brian) Major, daughter Julie Ann (Brent) Davis, son Craig Steven (Danielle) Morris, stepdaughter Sarah (Greg) Farley, daughter Brittany Anne (Rainer) Bless, son Sterling Ross (Kendra Anne) Morris, daughter Allison Jean Morris, his stepmother Connie “Dinka” (Jerry) Johnson, and Steve’s 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren.