Morris, John J.

Jesuit Father John “Jack” Morris died on Sept. 30, 2012, at the Jesuit infirmary in Spokane, Wash. He was 84 years old. Born on Oct. 22, 1927, in Anaconda, Mont., to John and Violet (Murphy) Morris, he was the second of three brothers.

Prior to attending Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and Regis College in Denver, Fr. Morris served in the U.S. Navy. In August 1950, he entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Sheridan, Ore., and was ordained a priest on June 16, 1962.

In the late 1950s, he created the Jesuit Volunteer Corps movement, which offers young men and women an opportunity to work full-time for justice and peace. He also helped found the Senior Chore Service, providing assistance to low-income seniors, with Catholic Charities of Seattle in the early 1980s.

In 1982, Fr. Morris walked from Bangor Naval Base in Bremerton, Wash., to Bethlehem, Israel with a group of peace pilgrims to raise awareness of the threat of nuclear weapons. He was sent to Uganda in the 1990s to work in the refugee camps and help direct retreats and recovery programs. Upon his return in 2002, he did parish work in Rockaway, Ore., until his retirement due to poor health.

He is survived by his older brother Patrick, younger brother Robert and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.