Richard Morrison

Richard Morrison was born on April 23, 1968, in Phoenix Arizona to Legrand Morrison and Gay Hill, one of 6 kids in his family. Richard’s father died from cancer when Richard was 13. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day Saints on May 15, 1976. He always strove for greater education and knowledge and pushed his children to do the same. This urge earned him first place in a school science fair in 1982. He always made it a point to attend school games and art events even when he was tired from extra work shifts. Richard earned his certification as a Respiratory Certified Technician in 1989, beginning a lifelong career in healthcare that spanned some 45 years and included every major epidemic from Aids to Covid-19. He served a religious mission to the Korea Seoul West Mission and returned home in August of 1991. Richard shortly there after married that same year. Giving birth to their oldest, Jade in 1993 before moving to Utah and having another 2 kids (Seth and Zain). Residing in West Valley City, Richard had many callings in the church, none so favored as nursery where he could eat snacks, and scouts where the outdoors and helping others grow up brought him much joy. Richard had a goal to earn a Bachelor’s degree before he was 40 and like most goals he set, he achieved it, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy. 

Moving back to Arizona in 2012 he continued working in healthcare at the Mayo clinic. It was here that he picked up a hobby that would become a passion for the rest of his life. Fly Fishing. From then on whenever he had a day off, he could be found knee deep in a river, casting for hours. Richard and Carolyn sought divorce in 2020, after which Richard moved to Utah to spend time with his children and go traveling to many places that he hadn’t had the opportunity to such as Glacier, Montana and Helper, Utah. He is survived by his 3 children. Richards’ view on religion and many aspects of life was service, even on long weeks of 6 days in a row of 12-hour shifts at the hospital he still dug up the energy to snow blow neighbors’ driveways on his day off. A habit he kept even as his body grew old and began to fail him, he soldiered on. As the effects of body degradation began to increase, Richard never complaining, found more and more ways to stay active and effective, having extensive systems of notes and reminders to help a failing memory, and spending more time with his children, neighbors, and friends. He leaves behind a legacy of service, companionship, and love.