Obituary of C. Robert "Bob" Morris

C. Robert “Bob” Morris, 82, of Parker, Colorado, died peacefully on March 15, 2023, surrounded by family and friends.

The oldest of four children, Bob was born on January 28, 1941, in Sommerville, Massachusetts to Robert Lewis Morris and Hazel Florence (Sullivan) Morris, growing up in Arlington and Barrington, Rhode Island.

He graduated from Barrington High School in 1959, was an Eagle Scout, then joined the United States Air Force. He served from September 1959 through August 1963, holding the rank of Airman 1st Class. After serving his country, Bob went on to study business at Boston University, graduating in 1967.

After college, he began his business career at his family’s business, The Plywood Mart Lumberyard, working there for five years, first in sales then as the board of directors’ secretary.

During this time, he met and married Julia Corwin Horton and had two children, Kristin Allen Morris and Robert Corwin “Cory” Morris.

In 1972, they moved to Aurora, Colorado and had their third child, Melissa Neilson “Lisa” Morris. In 1977 the family bought property in Parker, Colorado and in 1982, Bob and his family built their home and moved to Parker.

In 1988, he married Ellen Marie (Funk) Akers and welcomed a stepdaughter to his family, Ann Marie Akers.

Bob worked for Design Dynamics Exhibits, holding several roles including Operations Manager and Comptroller, retiring after 26 years as CFO and Vice President. While working in the industrial exhibits field, Bob completed his executive MBA with honors at the University of Denver.

After retiring, Bob started his own business, Specialized Property Management, Inc., a homeowner management company, managing 14 communities in the Parker area over a 10-year period.

While Bob had a very successful business career, he was most passionate about serving his community, believing “you can’t affect change without willing to be part of change.” As such, he served in many service-oriented roles over his lifetime. In addition to numerous task forces and focus groups for the Town of Parker over the past 15 years, his most important roles included the following:

Boston University Alumni Board for five years

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Comptroller for three years

Mission Viejo HOA Board of Directors VP for three years

Parker View Estates HOA President for two years

Town & Country HOA Board of Directors for five years

Canterberry Crossing Operations Manager for eight years and Board of Directors for 14 years

Parker Planning Commission for 15 years, as chair or vice chair for nine years

Douglas County Board of Adjustments for three years

Douglas County Library Trustee for nine years, including three years as President

Parker Water and Sanitation Conservation and Tiered Rate Study Group member

In his leisure time, he loved reading, hiking, watching the Broncos and NASCAR races. His love of gardening led to being a finalist or winner six times of the Parker Water and Sanitation Xeriscape contest.

In addition, Bob and Ellen loved to travel, traveling to move than 100 countries and on more 50 cruises, including spending his 82nd birthday on a cruise in Hawaii.

Bob was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He had a great sense of humor and was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is proceeded in death by parents, Robert Morris and Hazel Morris, his sister Barbara Gray and her husband Stu Gray.

He leaves behind his wife Ellen (Funk) Morris, his children Kristin Morris (Tim Chmielewski), Cory Morris (Jeanne Faiks), Lisa Morris, Ann Clement (Ryan Clement), seven grandchildren, his brother John Morris (Donna Langello) and sister Elizabeth Spahr (Tim Spahr).

Services will be held at Ave Maria Church in Parker on March 24th at 11:00 am.  A luncheon at the Church will follow.  The Committal Service with military honors provided by United States Air Force will be held at Parker Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.

In honor of Bob’s passion for service, the family requests memorials be made in Bob’s name to the Douglas County Libraries (https://www.dcl.org/donate/) or a community-based charity of choice in lieu of flowers.