Bernard Ellis Morris

Bernard Ellis Morris was born on July 25, 1935, in San Antonio, Texas, and died serenely on June 22, 2025, at his home in Oregon City, Oregon. He served in the US Marine Corps from 1954 to 1958 in San Diego, California. While serving in the Marines, he took college classes at San Diego Junior College. From there, he transferred to the University of California in Berkeley where he earned his doctorate in English literature in 1973. From 1972 to 2003 he taught English at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, California. He was a prolific writer of prose and poetry. His poems appeared in literary magazines, and he published essays on a variety of works, ranging from the sonnets of Shakespeare to the fiction of James Dickey. Many of his essays appeared in Harvard Review. He is the author of two published books: a grammar review and a review of the poetry of X.J. Kennedy entitled “Taking Measure”.

Bernard enjoyed nature, poetry, music, long walks, crossword puzzles, motorcycles, and traveling with his wife. He loved life.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Silvana, 2 stepchildren Adriana and Daniel, grandchildren Vix, Nolan and Quinn, stepdaughter-in-law Courtney, sister-in-law Rosemary, and daughter Georgiana.

He is preceded in death by his father Edward Leroy Morris, mother Doris Josephine Lanier, stepfather Malcolm (Mutt) Lanier, brothers Leroy and Harry Morris, and stepsister Jean Lanier.

His ashes will rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, Oregon. The funeral will be a private ceremony with family members and friends present.