Fred “Carpe Diem” Morris

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat” – Theodore Roosevelt
This abbreviated version of Fred’s story cannot possibly do him justice.  It would take many volumes to communicate a basic outline of his life, and even then, his massive positive impact on the world would barely be touched upon.
Fred was raised in Provo, Utah.  His mother and father, Francis (Nielsen) and Jack Morris, raised an amazing family of 5 children.  Jack Jr., Julie (Nuttall), Fred, Sally (Workman), and Suzie (Nielson).  Their close and loving bond set the stage for Fred’s future family values.
From his earliest days Fred had an overwhelming passion for wildlife and nature.  At twelve years of age, he became the Founder and President of The Provo Zoological Society along with his great friend, Dee Thatcher.  Fred’s backyard turned zoo housed many local and international specimens. He continued this love throughout his life, photographing animals and scenery in every corner of the world.  He loved every creature that flew, walked, ran, slithered, or swam. He knew most of them by name (including scientific), habits, habitats, and attributes.  He shared this with everyone he came across, and they invariably became more passionate about nature in response.  He hunted around the world and loved to show people how beautiful and amazing these creatures are. His home, book and 42 years of calendars are an ode to “the beauty and variety of the earth which is beyond myth and imagination”.
Fred always had incredible luck (self-created of course), and he shared it with others as well.  His great fortune in marrying Sue Elton, his best friend, and his long-time neighbor whom he loved for years before she ever knew, became a great blessing for many. Fred and Sue as a couple succeeded in creating a legacy that has positively impacted thousands of people, not only in their local community but also around the world. Their love for each other and those around them is infectious. Rarely does anyone speak of one without the other.
Fred served the country that he loved as a pilot in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve. He eventually became an instructor pilot and flew many types of aircraft.   Fred and Sue’s travels in the Air Force sparked a passion for world travel that took them to more than 170 countries, all the continents and oceans, and to both the North and South Poles.   They loved experiencing and learning about the world so much so that they couldn’t help but share it with all their family and friends. Fred would often say, “I will open doors for you, doors you never dreamed existed.”
In 1977 Fred and Sue used their entire lifesavings to purchase five open-ended around the world plane tickets on Pan American Airlines.  They took their three young children (ages 7, 11, & 12) out of school for three months in order to visit numerous countries in and around the Pacific Ocean with no set itinerary, other than a mandate to see and experience the world.  This included exotic locales like Tahiti, Nepal, Burma, Australia, and Japan. These adventures changed their lives forever.  Over the next five decades Fred and Sue made a habit of creating similar experiences for everyone they knew.
Fred learned at a young age that hard work, determination, and wise financial decisions were the keys to unlocking the many opportunities that he sought. He worked hard and had dozens of jobs as a young boy and teenager.  His love for knowledge and experiences in life fueled his ability to earn, save, and create wealth. He worked his way from bag boy at Reams Grocery to store manager. His passion for business and entrepreneurship created many successful companies for him and all his partners. He enjoyed creating income for others even more than for himself. For Fred the income was nothing, but the opportunities it unlocked were priceless.
Fred always included family and friends in his businesses. His two primary companies were Pentalon Corporation (which he started with a friend, his father, and two brothers-in-law) and Triton Investments (which he and Sue created along with their three children and spouses). Both businesses grew to include hundreds of partners along the way.  Between these two organizations they built, owned, and managed more than 10,000 apartments, numerous office buildings and various other real estate holdings. With Fred’s vision as the starting point, this legacy will continue for generations to come.
Fred may be the world’s greatest storyteller. Amazingly the stories are not only true, but rarely are they even exaggerated. He also loved to earnestly listen to other people’s tales, and he basked in their adventure. Fred was genuine with everyone he met. He was a fantastic entrepreneur, husband, father, grandfather, friend, and sibling. We, who have been elevated by his legacy, are committed to the ideal that his vision of wonder and love shall continue for generations to come. Carpe diem!
He will be missed by his wife of 58 years Sue Elton Morris, his children Zane (Cindy) Morris, Amy (Bruce) Babcock and Lars (Carol) Morris, his grandchildren Zack (Jessica) Brady, Sierra Morris, Maya Morris, Sloan (Kelcie) Babcock, Tiffany (Ben) Wright and Savannah Morris; great grandchildren, Khloe Brady, KC Brady, Adalyn Snyder, Cierra Snyder, and Brynley Babcock.  Siblings, Jack (Sharon (D)) Morris, Jr. and Susan (Keith) Nielson and brothers-in-law Richard Nuttall and Richard Workman.
Preceded in death by his father and mother Jack and Francis Morris, his sisters Julie Nuttall and Sally Workman, and his other best friend Beaux Babcock (grandson)
A celebration of life will be held at the Hidden Valley Country Club, 11820 S Highland Dr Sandy, UT on April 24, 2022, from 4 to 8 pm. The family would enjoy a short personal story about Fred. These can be submitted via the website below, or on a card provided at the celebration of life.
In lieu of fresh cut flowers, please send a live perennial, to be planted in Fred and Sue’s beautiful yard.
Topic: Fred Morris: Celebration of Life
Time: Apr 24, 2022 04:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
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Celebration of Life
April 24, 2022 at 4:00-8:00 PM
Hidden Valley Country Club, 11820 S. Highland Drive, Sandy, Utah