Michael T. Morris, Jr. (1927-2025)

Michael Thomas Morris, 98, passed away at his home on June 7, 2025.  Born on March 9, 1927 in Monessen, Pennsylvania, Mr. Morris grew up in Lansford, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.  Upon graduation from St. Ann’s high school, he received a football scholarship to Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts.  His college football career ended when he was drafted during WWII to serve in the United States Navy.  Upon completion of his military service, he returned to Holy Cross College and finished his education on the GI Bill.  During his college days, he wrote for the College Newspaper, The Crusader, which featured his column entitled “The Morris Chair”.  He also was a radio announcer for the school radio station WCHC and later at the Worcester Radio Station WTAG where he gave hourly news updates.

Upon graduation from college, he entered Dickinson Law School.  After earning his Juris Doctor degree, he moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania and started a law practice in Harrisburg, Schafer & Morris.  Later he founded Derry Oil Company which serviced the local Hershey area.  Mr. Morris also established Derry Realty Company in Hershey which grew to include several satellite offices.  His interest in real estate soon grew to construction with several projects in the Harrisburg area including:  Lincoln Apartments (Hershey); Wagner Morris Building (21st & Bypass) and Holy Spirit Medical Office Building both in Camp Hill; St. Joseph Medical Office Building in Reading; Bergner Building (Harrisburg - current site of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts) and other housing developments in Elizabethtown and Annville.  He was honored by the Dauphin County Bar Association as a member of more than fifty (50) years.  

Mr. Morris had ownership interests in numerous companies, including:  Kroehler Cabinet Company (MO); Fort Steuben Products, Inc. (W.VA.) and locally - Farmers Pride, Inc. (AKA Bell & Evans Chicken - Fredericksburg), Mark Hershey Feed Mill (Lebanon), and Franklin Family Farms (Franklin County).

Mr. Morris was the son of Reverend Michael T. Morris and Ana Jumbelic along with two sisters, Eleanor and Ann Louise.  On August 15, 1955, he married Imogene Smith of Uniontown, Pennsylvania who was widowed upon the tragic death of her husband, Roger C. Woodard, while flying a mission for the Air Force over Poyang, North Korea in 1950.  Imogene had two children from this previous marriage, Patricia and Roger.  Mr. Morris is survived by his son, Michael S. Morris, Esquire, his wife Judge Anne E. Covey, their two children, Katy and Michael, as well as his daughter Patricia and her two children, Sean and Heather, and three great grandchildren.

He was also very active in his community as an Alternate Delegate to the 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., Appointed by the Governor as the Secretary to the Board of Pardons, past Commander of American Legion Post 386 (Hershey), and President of the Hershey-Palmyra Sertoma Club where the organization hosted the NFL pre-season game between the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Colts at Hershey Stadium.

Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey.  Interment will be immediately following at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA.