In Memoriam

Ruby Emma Evelyn Morris (née Williams), BA’34

Ruby was born December 30, 1913, in Vancouver and passed away on July 1, 2010, at the age of 96 in White Rock, BC.

Ruby grew up in Vancouver, the youngest of four siblings, with brothers Les and Ivor and sister Iris. Having skipped several grades, Ruby began attending UBC at the age of 15. She graduated from Normal School as a teacher in 1934 at the age of 21. Ruby was not only an excellent student but also fun-loving, dramatic and charismatic. While attending UBC, she enjoyed participating in the Drama Club.

In 1938, she married her “true love,” Wilfred Morris, in Vancouver, BC. Wilfred was also a graduate of UBC, in civil engineering. They met at a downtown mission church service where Wilfred was playing his trumpet. In her words, she “took one look at him and fell in love!” She would call him “Lover” for the rest of her life, even after he passed away in November 1994.

Ruby and Wilfred went to Peru as missionaries in 1938, immediately after their marriage. They would spend the rest of their working lives in South America. Their four children, Marilyn, Gail, David and Jeannie, were born in Peru, and lived there in the town of Chosica until 1957. Ruby’s professional skills were put to great use teaching her own children by correspondence as well as her missionary teaching and pastoring work. In 1957, Ruby and Wilfred brought Gail and Marilyn “home” to Vancouver to attend university at UBC. Upon their return to South America in 1960, they relocated to Caracas in Venezuela with the two youngest children – David, who was then 15 years old, and Jeannie, who was only six.

Everyone loved Ruby for her warmth, charisma and her great love of people. It was often said that she simply did not possess a temper. She was the perfect complement to the sometimes gruff Wilfred. Ruby was also particularly known for her beautiful mezzo-soprano voice and love of singing.

Ruby suffered from Alzheimer’s in her later years but continued to enjoy visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; continued to love singing; and continued to pray. Ruby is survived by her four children and their spouses, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren as well as many, many dear friends and extended family members.