Robert "Toad" Morris

Robert (Toad) Morris, age 95 of Brookfield, Missouri, died on April 11, 2023 in Danville, Kentucky. For the last three years he was a resident of Morning Point care facility in Danville where his daughter, Marla Worland, lives.

Born Robert Eloise Renshaw on February 11, 1928, his mother, Audrey, divorced when he was around two years old and was remarried to Virgil Morris. In 1945 at age 17, Bob had a dispute with a football coach who promised him he could play if he got his grades up. After complying, the coach reneged on his promise and he quit school to join the navy with his mother's written consent as he was underage. He was stationed in San Diego for his enlistment. While there, he completed his high school graduation requirements (GED) and traveled back to Brookfield, Missouri by train to graduate with his original high school class in 1946. Also while in the Navy, he officially changed his name to Robert Morris, acknowledging his stepfather and dropping his middle name entirely.

In 1958, Toad and his stepfather Virgil bought an old, dilapidated cabin on the south side of the lake at the Brookfield Country Club. For the first summer, the family used an outhouse up the hill by the railroad tracks until a water pump to the lake and a bathroom were installed in the cabin. The family enjoyed summers here until 1963, when a house at the north end of the lake was purchased and the family moved there full time. Toad loved life at the lake and spent many hours golfing, swimming, fishing, playing tennis, and pulling kids skiing. In 1975, he moved to 12 acres of land near Bucklin, Missouri, formerly known as “the Fox Hunting” grounds. There, after about two years of hard labor, he and wife Eileen cut, sculpted, and pieced together a log cabin overlooking a small lake. Here they lived a somewhat self-sufficient life until Eileen's death. Lonely at the log cabin, Toad then moved back to Brookfield to play golf and drink coffee.

Toad was very social. He had the gift of gab and would always try to “make a long story short” but usually failed. Long term friends of Toad’s, where the families spent a lot of time at each other’s houses, were Dale and Barbara Beach, Merl and Jan Gray, Marge and Ferrel Hahn, Marlene and Eldon Seaboldt, Norman and Marilyn Hahn, Lane and Emma Lee Thudium, Donnie and Linda Schooler, Gene and Marilyn Moore, and Charlie and Norma Lou Drescher among others.

Toad was preceded in death by Eileen, his wife of 44 years, in 1995. He is survived by his daughter, Marla Worland (Jim) of Danville, Kentucky and his son Monte (Jane) Morris of Canton, Missouri as well as grandsons, Josh Worland (wife Aleta, and children Hailey, Addison, Olivia) of Danville, Kentucky and Laef Morris (children Harper and Reagan) of Austin, Texas and granddaughter, Whitney Morris (expecting son) of Chicago. Other surviving relatives are brother-in-law Jack White (wife Shirley, and children Todd, Jackie, and Stacey) of Marceline, and cousin Patsy Asher of Brookfield.

A private family memorial is being planned. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at https://curealz.org/ or mail to Wright Funeral Home, P.O. Box 496, Brookfield, MO 64628.

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