Patricia Morris

On July 22, 2023 Patricia Lou (Courson Small) Morris, 83, passed away at Brookdale Sandy Springs after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers disease.

Born in Watseka, IL on September 30, 1939, to Arthur Clide and Alice Rose Roderick Courson, Pat grew up in central Illinois, much of her time in Danville. Her father was the oldest of 11 children and her mother was one of 8, so she grew up surrounded by a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and, when she was five, her brother Richard entered the picture. She graduated from Rossville High, where she was a member of National Honor Society as well as a homecoming queen. She began college, married Terry Ross, and brought two sons into the world, Greg and Randy. While raising her sons, she eventually finished her degree at Illinois State University, receiving a B.S. in Education. She worked diligently for her degree through difficult times, and greatly valued education.

Pat was an elementary school teacher briefly before marrying Ralph Small, a former Christian Church minister and vice president/publisher at Standard Publishing. Together with Greg and Randy, they moved to Fairfield, OH, where Pat stayed active in the church, singing, teaching and leading. They also enjoyed regular visits to Johnson City, TN and Milligan College, where Ralph was on the board for many fruitful years.

Pat and Ralph enjoyed several years of retirement at Lake Santee, near Clarksburg IN, where they would become an integral part of Clarksburg Christian Church. After Ralph passed away, Pat remarried and eventually moved to Maryville, TN with husband, Ben Morris, to be near her son Randy, his wife Sarah, and her grandchildren, Jesse, Laurel, and Duncan.

Pat spent her final years doing what she loved best: spending her time in church and singing her heart out in the choir at Fairview United Methodist Church. She loved gardening, eating chocolate, and watching sunsets on the Foothills Parkway. She made friends easily and always looked sharp. She was known in the family for always saying, "Im proud of you," whether it was to her sons, her grandchildren, or her brother. She nursed two husbands through lengthy illnesses and had little time to explore life on her own before Alzheimers claimed her. In 2020 Pat moved into Brookdale Sandy Springs, as the disease made it no longer possible to live on her own.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of many years, Ralph Small; as well as her late-in-life husband Ben Morris.

Pat is survived by her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Richard Courson and wife Bettina Tom of Honolulu, HI; her two sons and daughters-in-law, Greg (Cindy) Small of Bradenton, FL and Randy (Sarah) Small of Alcoa, TN; her grandchildren Jesse (Summer) Small, Laurel Rose (Hunter) Maerz, and Duncan Small; and her two step-daughters Ashley (Chris) Holzhausen and Melissa Morris, and their children, Elle and Angus.

The family is tremendously grateful for the loving and compassionate care she received at the memory care center at Brookdale Sandy Springs, especially to Leslie Crowe, and to Gentiva Hospice.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Illinois 61834. Pats long-time minister and friend, Jerran Jackson will be officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 1-2:00 on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimers Association (alz.org).

Please join Patricias family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com .