|
I am so sorry to pass on the news that Joseph "Skip" Morrow has passed away. Click on the obituary link to watch a beautiful short movie.
Joseph “Skip” Ellis Morrow, 73, was born on January 8,1952 in Virginia. He passed away peacefully on June 4, 2025. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph Ellis and Lois Rae Urias and adopted Father Jack Morrow. He is survived by his siblings Jeff Morrow of Phoenix, AZ; David Morrow of Las Vegas, NV; Susan Creenan of Tucson AZ, 2 nephews and 1 niece.
As a military family, during Skip’s early educational years, the family moved often throughout the south and Europe. He spent his high school years in Tucson, AZ and graduated from Sahura High School in 1970. Skip was academic minded and focused his passion on a love for drama, theater and history. Skip received a full scholarship to Brigham Young University where he played an active role in the BYU theater department acting and directing several theater performances. Skip graduated with a BA in Drama and Theater in 1974 after which he joined the Army in 1977. During this time, he completed the program as a surgical operating room technician which became his career and role in the Army. Shortly after completing the program, he was stationed in Savannah, GA, followed by moving to Nuremberg Germany. This made a significant impact on Skip’s love to travel the world and absorb the culture. Skip fell in love with Bavaria and made numerous visits throughout his lifetime. After his tour in Germany, Skip was stationed in Fort Leavenworth Kansas. He played an active role in directing for the River City Community Players in Leavenworth Kansas. He was accomplished in set and stage design, lighting and directing.
After fulfilling his career in the Army, Skip remained in Leavenworth and worked in the Jewelry business. He moved to Utah in 1997 where he became involved and was active in the St. Francis Catholic Church Life-teen program. Skip was instrumental in introducing this program to the Diocese of Salt Lake City and played a significant role in the lives of our catholic teens.
Many will remember Skip for his compassion to others, his personable and friendly demeanor and his love for his golden retrievers. Skip loved all things German. Skip reflected on his life in Germany and many experiences he shared with everyone he met. He will be truly missed by many.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine at 11:30 am on Thursday June,12,2025 followed by burial at the Utah Veterans Memorial Park located at 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale Utah.
Memorial contributions may be made to Utah Golden Retriever Rescue.
Rest in Peace. https://starksfuneral.com/obituary/joseph-skip-ellis-morrow/
|
Jorjanne Arnold (Gausman)
In Loving Memory
Dear Morrow Family, I am heartbroken for all of us that Skip is gone. Please accept my deepest condolences during this incredibly difficult time. Skip was truly one of a kind—a remarkable man whose friendship enriched my life in countless ways. From his days as a decorated speech and debate student at Sahuaro High School to his lifelong passion for theater, history, and storytelling, Skip had an extraordinary gift for bringing knowledge and experiences to life through his incredible narratives. What made Skip so special was not just his vast knowledge of history, art, politics, and architecture, but his unparalleled ability to weave these subjects into captivating stories that could transport you to another time and place. He was the consummate storyteller, with an unbelievable memory for detail and a talent for making every conversation feel like a fascinating journey. I am deeply moved by the rare and beautiful friendships Skip maintained throughout his life—particularly his 50-year connection and friendship with his beloved speech teacher and his fellow students from Sahuaro. This speaks volumes about the kind of person he was: loyal, thoughtful, and genuinely caring about the people who mattered to him. Skip’s kindness, generosity, and fierce loyalty as a friend will never be forgotten. Whether he was sharing tales of his travels through Bavaria, his theatrical adventures, or his experiences in the Army, he had a way of making everyone around him feel valued and engaged. His compassion for others and his warm, personable demeanor touched so many lives. I am profoundly grateful for the gift of Skip’s friendship. While my heart breaks knowing I’ll never again have the opportunity to spend time with him and hear his amazing stories, I will treasure the memories we shared and carry his spirit with me always. Skip’s legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, the stories he shared, and the love he gave so freely. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. With love and sympathy…. 💜Always Jorjii
Jorjanne Arnold Gausman
Bowie, MD
Jorjanne Arnold (Gausman)
To Joe's friends and family: I am Joe's former high school speech teacher, and good friend for these past many years. Joe was a teacher's delight. His intellectual skills were superior...his quest 'to know' was superb. He loved his freinds..he enjoyed spendinding time Learning writing, speaking, acting. That quest to know, to experience, to share was always pursued. I participated in that quest as frequently as I could. We learned from one another and from his other friends/classmates. We have stayed in touch these past decades...celebrating life by phone,and in personal visits. I marvel at his knowledge of this planet where we all preside.... Joseph, 'Skip' Morrow was a gift to this instructor/ friend....my heart and soul have a broken scar...he will be missed by all who were privileged to know him and share in his adventures.
Ann Knowles
Salina, KS
Mary Holdman
To Family and Friends of Skip:
skip is one of those people that you never forget. In high school, he was a close friend who made me laugh and listened when I needed someone to talk to. He had a special way of making anyone feel special and important. I am sorry that I lost touch with him for too long but was lucky to have reconnected at a reunion and kept in touch ever since, but not enough. The world is a little sadder without him in it.
Mary Holdman
McMinville OR
John Brownlee
I'm thinking of Skip this week and feel blessed to have all the good memories from so many years ago. I have a vivid memory of Skip and Marc Batiste leading cheers at the first away football game in Bisbee in the fall of 1968. I think that may have been the first time I saw him. He kicked ass leading those cheers. May he rest in peace.
Carl E. Lopez
John brought up something about Skip that I had not thought about in a long time. I do remember Skip and Marc at that game in Bisbee along with Lisa Clark. Unfortunately they have all passed. I felt very fortunate to be in Sahuaro's first football game and a part of this new school. Skip definitely provided grat spirit to events like football games. I got to know him better years later through the reunions. He had amazing positive energy. Rest in peace Skip.
Jorjanne Arnold (Gausman)
Dear fellow students and friends of skip..... please stay tuned to this space Ann Knowles, skip’s Dear Friend and executor of his estate and myself are planning a zoom celebration of Skip's life since none of us were able to attend his funeral that is being held tomorrow in Utah. Sometime in the weeks to come, I'll post about this and hope that all of us can get together on zoom and share some stories of our own ! Thank you!
Carol Post
Reading these In Memory Comments brings back many warm thoughts about Skip. I too had forgotten about Skip and Marc cheerleading but can see them now with their smiles and enthusiasm. What I do remember is Skip’s concern for others and asking about you rather than being self-absorbed – a common theme I see throughout these Comments. I didn’t keep in touch with Skip but a fond memory lingers in my head of a brief conversation with him at our 40th reunion – I was struck by seeing that same warmth and concern fifty years later. The word that comes to mind when I think of Skip is gentle.
Scott Carter
I am warmed by all of these fond reminicences of Skip -- I don't think I ever called him Joe, or knew him as Joe or ever heard him call himself as Joe. Building on John citing Skip as a cheerleader: I think that that was his essence: He was a cheerleader for his school, his friends, his country, the music he love, the movies. He stayed enthusiastically connected to that which gave him joy ... and he then multiplied and accelerated that joy out to the world. He was an Enthusiast. A Booster. He seconded every motion. And every emotion. There was nothing subdued about his reaction to life. If something bothered him, he ruminated over it until he discovered -- or rediscovered -- a portal back to Joyousness. There was never anything half-way about his affections, interests or opinions. I remember having a knock-down drag out argument with him one day in the Sahuaro speech class because he insisted that GONE WITH THE WIND was a better movie than my favorite (Orson Welles' CITIZEN KANE). He never gave in. He never gave up. If you momentarily stymied him with an argument for which he did not yet have a prepared answer, he would perhaps retreat for a spell -- figuratively, literally -- but then always return with what he considered to be an irrefutable rejoinder. I don't think he ever conceded a point. He never lost an argument because, in his own mind (at least), he never stopped winning it. With that big smile on his face. I don't think life ever bored him. He was always engaged. Always intrigued. And you knew that if you brought a point up to him, that you would not be met with indifference. "Ho-hum" was not in his vocabulary. Three cheers for Skip.
Sharon Graham (Stacy)
I remember Skip as one of the great Mike boys. It makes me so happpy to read of the diverse wonderful life he created. He made that happen as a mixer among many with a confidence coming from a military family and moving into a military career, following his pursuit of the Arts. Interesting he loved everythig German. I do not remember him in my German class with Frau Stuessy...one of the many teachers I value to this day. But I do remember Skip and Marc Batiste at the football games lifting everyone's enthusiasm. There is great joy and happiness to read of Skip's diverse and interesting life.
Sue Richards (Boughton)
Dear family of Skip Morrow, I am so sad to hear about Skip's death. I use to call him Skipy whenever I would see him walking in the hallways and not smiling. "Hey Skipy!", because he would always make me smile or laugh out loud, when we passed each other. I really do not know why, or how it started, but Skip made me think better of people. Skip was always happy when we were in the speach room together. He would always say "HI" to me. When we had dances at Sahuaro, Skip would ask me to dance......maybe because I wasn't dancing with anyone. lol. But he was kind, and always tell me he liked the dress I was wearing, every time. Skip was KIND, and showed COMPASSION to eveyone yes everyone!!!!! Thank you Skip Morrow for being a "Good Guy." There are so few in this world now, I will remember you always with that smile asking me to dance.
Sue Richards Boughton