DAPHNE MORRISON
DAPHNE MORRISON
Daphne Morrison was born on a cold fall Alabama morning on October 11, 1941 to Elma ‘Boonie’ and James Peavy. She is survived by her four children, Meridee (Glen) Steffensmeier of Mesa, Arizona, Tamara (James) Borland of Riverside, Iowa, Kristen Cassidy of Dacula, Georgia and James Morrison of North Liberty, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Nicole, Sarah, Megan, MacKenzie, Michael, Sydney, Lauren, Zachary and Logan; mother, Boonie Peavy of Birmingham, Alabama; brother, James ‘Buzz’ (Lee) Peavy of Kansas City; sister, Jane (Wayne) Rasco of Birmingham, Alabama; a niece and nephew; four great-nephews; one great-niece; three aunts, and two uncles.
From a young age Daphne loved school and reading. As a shy but inquisitive young adult she embarked on a train to attend Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa where she was to meet her husband, Meredith John Morrison. After Meredith’s stint in the Army and arrival of their first born, Meridee, the new family moved from Fort Benning, Georgia to Ames, Iowa where Tamara joined the family in 1969. Daphne put off finishing college to have her family and enter the work world. In Des Moines Kristen and James joined the family in 1971 and 1972 respectively.
Daphne explored the world through the written word. Her diverse reading interests included all types of fiction and non-fiction and ranged from gardening, cookery, philosophy, poetry, health and religion. She was a voracious reader, and it was rumored she could read a 1,000-page book within a single weekend! Daphne returned to college in 1989, joining her daughter Tamara at Iowa State University. Daphne excelled and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in English. She returned to Graceland to work in admissions.
While Daphne never lost her love of the beach or her mother’s southern cooking, she came to love Iowa and Meredith’s family farm. She loved the rolling hills, the woods and creek. She and Meredith retired there.
Daphne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 65. The disease took its toll but did not rob her of her sense of humor, her love of family or pride in her children and grandchildren. She passed away on May 23, 2013 in Mesa, Arizona.
Following cremation, memorial services are 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 10, 2013, at the Cheville Chapel at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, with burial following at Elk Cemetery west of Decatur, Iowa. Arrangements are through Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home of Leon and Lamoni, Iowa.
