Hermaine Gretchen Morris

Hermaine Gretchen Morris, loving wife, sister, friend, mother to 2 and grandmother to 4 passed away on January 20, 2022. Known as Nana to her grandchildren, Hermaine spent her 81-plus years caring for others.

Hermaine was born in Great Falls, Montana, on December 11, 1940 to Herman and Vera Luther. Although she would leave Montana as a young adult, her love for the state and western culture never faded. Highlights of her childhood included riding her beloved horse Poncho and spending time at the family cabin with her parents and siblings Janet Luther (Enloe) and Joel Luther.

In 1959, Hermaine reluctantly agreed to go ice skating with a friend despite feeling under the weather. It was there she met an Airman stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base and a romance soon blossomed. On June 30, 1960, Hermaine married Fred Eugene Morris, a union that lasted over 58 years until Fred’s passing in 2019.

The couple settled in a small home in nearby Tracy, Montana, and in 1962 their daughter, April Lynn Morris (Ifkovits) was born. Soon after, Fred’s career would take them to Knoxville, Tennessee, and in 1967 their family grew with the birth of their son, Ryan Luther Morris.

The family moved several times in the coming years as Air Force families often do. This included a move back to Great Falls, MT, while Fred served in Vietnam. After Fred’s service years, they eventually settled in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The family became members of St. Timothy United Methodist Church where Hermaine was blessed with many friendships that lasted the rest of her life. Her activities at church included mentoring young adults in the youth group, leading a Girl Scout troop, performing in and building the sets for annual musicals, singing in the choir, playing handbells and working in the front office. In addition to her church activities, Hermaine enjoyed raising her kids and eventually spending time with grandchildren, reading mystery novels, and taking road trips with Fred to visit family in Montana and Michigan.

Hermaine is survived by her daughter April Ifkovits, son Ryan Morris, son-in-law Philip Ifkovits, daughter-in-law Pamela Morris, grandchildren Zachary Ifkovits, Nicholas Ifkovits, Ethan Morris, and Emily Morris and her sister Janet Enloe. She was preceeded in death by her husband Fred E Morris, parents Vera and Herman Luther, and brother Joel Luther.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in memory of Hermaine Morris to the Monarch-Neihart Historical Group - Train Depot Foundation (mnhg.org/donation-form).