Joseph Morrison

Joseph Gilbert Morrison (82) passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of May 24th with his wife of 60 years by his side, in the home where his parents brought him as a newborn. Joe was born to Charles and Anne (Fornfeist) Morrison in Yakima on July 21, 1936 and was raised on the family ranch in Buena. He spent his early years working and playing in his father’s orchards with his brothers Charles Jr. and Sid. After graduating from Toppenish High School in 1954, he attended Washington State College and the University of Puget Sound before deciding his future took him to the skies and joining the U.S. Navy in early 1958, attending Flight School as a Naval Cadet. He trained in Pensacola, Florida and Kingsville, Texas where he received his wings before being assigned to an All-Weather Fighter Squadron at Miramar Naval Station in San Diego, California. On July 13, 1958, Joe married the love of his life, Myrna Bergeson, and they began their life together as a Naval couple with assignment in Mountain View, California where son Joseph Gilbert Jr. (Joey) was born in 1959. Joe went for a 6-month cruise on the Naval Carrier BonHomme Richard, traveling throughout the Pacific to Guam, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore & India. Once home, Joe was assigned to VF(AW)-3 based at NAS North Island in Coronado, California where daughter Elizabeth (Beth) was born in 1961. During this time, units of VF(AW)-3 were deployed to NAS Key West. Joe was a part of Team Bravo patrolling the coastline and intercepting aircraft during the build-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He left active duty and returned with his family to Buena to begin his career as an orchardist in late 1962. Joe continued as a Naval reservist based out of NAS Whidbey until retirement from the Navy in 1982. Once back home in Buena, Joe joined his father and brother Sid in the management of Morrison Fruit Company, and the arrival of son David made the family complete in 1965. He loved the ranch and worked diligently to build MFC with the addition of new crops (wine grapes and fruit varieties) and his participation in industry organizations. He served many years on the Washington Apple Commission, including a stint as Commission Chairman, was 17 years on the Roza Irrigation District Board, and spent several years on the Snokist Growers Board. He had a deep and abiding respect and fondness for the many people who worked for MFC, recognizing that they were the heart of the ranch. Joe had a beautiful singing voice that he used to great effect in the WSU, UPS, and Naval Choirs, and charmed his family with his gift. He was also a talented artist – a skill he passed on to his grandsons – drawing cartoons, experimenting with welded metal art, and carving amazing duck decoys for friends and family. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing and hunting, and he was a dapper presence on the golf course. Above all, he loved animals. Always surrounded by pets, one of Joe’s high school jobs was as a veterinary assistant for Doc Underwood in Wapato, where the dogs would hide their heads in his arms as they were examined. Joe and Myrna loved boating in the San Juan Islands where they enjoyed hosting friends and family for a day or weekend on the boat – fishing, crabbing, and enjoying the beauty of the coastline. He was an avid reader who would devour a large book over the course of just a few days, seldom looking up when engrossed in the story. His quick wit and intelligent humor often left us smiling for days. Joe is survived by his wife Myrna, his daughter & sonin-law Beth & Curt Chandler, his son David Morrison, his grandsons Curtis & Sean Chandler, his brother Sid Morrison, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles Jr., and his son Joey. Graveside services will be held Friday, May 31st at 11:00 am at the Zillah Cemetery, with a reception to follow at the Zillah Civic Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Yakima Valley Humane Society and Memorial Hospice. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Morrison, please visit our flower store.