Home > United States of America > Kansas > Elk County > Howard > Grace Lawn Cemetery > Willard L. “Cap” Morss

Willard L. “Cap” Morss

Birth	:	16 Jul 1895 Elk County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	3 Nov 1989 Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Grace Lawn Cemetery, Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.4583015, -96.2722015
Description	:	HOWARD--Willard L. "Cap" Morss, 94, of Howard died Friday, Nov. 3, 1989, at an Independence hospital. Mr. Morss was a banker for 60 years retiring from the Howard State Bank in 1981. He was an army veteran of W. W. I. He was born July 16, 1895, in Elk County, the son of Frank and Nora Smith Morss. He lived in S. Dakota and Montana before joining the army. Mr. Morss was a member of the Lions Club, the Elks Club, the Rotary Club, the International Order of Odd Fellows and Carter-Rader Am. Legion Post... Read More	HOWARD--Willard L. "Cap" Morss, 94, of Howard died Friday, Nov. 3, 1989, at an Independence hospital. Mr. Morss was a banker for 60 years retiring from the Howard State Bank in 1981. He was an army veteran of W. W. I. He was born July 16, 1895, in Elk County, the son of Frank and Nora Smith Morss. He lived in S. Dakota and Montana before joining the army. Mr. Morss was a member of the Lions Club, the Elks Club, the Rotary Club, the International Order of Odd Fellows and Carter-Rader Am. Legion Post No. 149, all in Howard. He was also a member of the Kansas Bankers' Ass'n and was active in the Am. Legion at the state level. He was married to Nettie Hope Miller on Dec. 6, 1919, in Wichita. She survives. Other survivors include a brother, Vernon Morss, Seattle; and a sister, Silva Henderson, Harper. Services will be at 2 p. m. Monday at the First Baptist Church of Howard. Military graveside services will be conducted by Post No. 149 at Grace Lawn Cemetery. Note: obit provided by JH (#47836486) Willard Morss was born in 1895 on the claim that was filed by his grandfather, William Henry Morss, in 1868. The house in which he was born was built a year after the claim was filed. This farm is still owned by the heirs of the late Frank and Nora Morss--Willard, Sylvia and Vernon. So for 3 generations it has been known as the Morss farm. The one room country school, Rock Creek, gave him a solid foundation that enabled him to further his education at the Salt City Business College at Hutchinson, without having attended High School. His father was instrumental in this decision. He took advantage of the opportunity by taking all courses offered by the 4 year course, Business Arithmetic, Secretarial, Banking, etc. Penmanship practice was a must those days, therefore he could write beautifully when he graduated. He worked for room and board as a night clerk in a hotel. He remembers with clarity the negro man cook whom he spent much time with. Claims were available when Willard was a teenager, so he struck out and filed on a claim at Armstead, Montana. This was finally cancelled. He followed the harvest and spent some time at the Kellier Cattle Ranch in South Dakota. This life was very undesirable for an educated teenager, as this was a tough outfit. This was a vast expence. Some of the Indian Reservation land was used for grazing, along Pine Ridge, southeast of Rapid City, on Rapid Creek. He secured servicing a mail route out of Elm Springs. He drove a buck board for the 35 mile trip to New Underwood, South Dakota. A Chinese man cook, Ing Pie, and Willard built a little cabin in which they lived at the end of the routes. This was the era of Woodrow Wilson's campaign for President. Ranches would eagerly await the mail hack to learn of the news from D.C., (their only access to events away from home). When the War No. 1 was declared, Willard came home to go overseas to do his part. When his year was over he returned to Elk county and married his long time girl friend, Nettie Miller, Dec. 16, 1919. They farmed 3 years, then moved to town and he got mixed up with the banking business and has become an unreplacable fixture, having spent 55 years in this service. Through the years he and Nettie have been foster parents of Charles Miller for 16 years, Dorothy Miller for 4 years, Willis Miller for 6 years and Glen Miller was in and out as were nieces and nephews. The 46 years of straight attendance of Sunday School is a commended record. They attended in many states from east to west. Mildred Taylor honored him last Sunday by singing "Home on the Range" and giving him a kiss. Contributor: LJG (47852615)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Willard L. “Cap” Morss's memorial?
Willard L. “Cap” Morss's memorial is located at: Grace Lawn Cemetery, Howard, Elk County, USA.
When did Willard L. “Cap” Morss death?
Willard L. “Cap” Morss death on 3 Nov 1989 in Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Willard L. “Cap” Morss's memorial?
Latitude: 37.4583015
Longitude: -96.2722015

Family Members:

Parent

Frank Morss

(1873 - 1972)

Helen Nora Smith Morss

(1873 - 1967)

Spouse

Nettie Hope Miller Morss

(1893 - 1993)

Siblings

Sylvia Mae Henderson

(1898 - 1997)

Vernon F. Morss

(1912 - 2009)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Grace Lawn Cemetery
Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4583015, -96.2722015

2. Benjamin Hobbs Gravesite
Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5068480, -96.2526650

3. Moline Cemetery
Moline, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3746986, -96.3094025

4. Fairview United Brethren Cemetery
Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5516120, -96.2869580

5. Bunker Hill Cemetery
Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5407982, -96.3347015

6. Elk Falls Cemetery
Elk Falls, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3767100, -96.2005400

7. Cresco Cemetery
Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5619011, -96.2517014

8. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Moline, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3527985, -96.2893982

9. Wilkinson Family Cemetery
Eureka, Greenwood County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5670900, -96.3077700

10. Clear Creek Cemetery
Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4874992, -96.4171982

11. Sallee Family Cemetery
Moline, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3634600, -96.3627900

12. Forest Cemetery
Howard, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5416985, -96.3796997

13. Rural Vale Cemetery
Fiat, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5698891, -96.1794662

14. Ames Chapel Cemetery
Moline, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3147011, -96.2727966

15. Old Boston Cemetery
Chautauqua County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2986540, -96.3174390

16. Wade Cemetery
Cave Springs, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5433000, -96.0885200

17. Green Lawn Cemetery
Grenola, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3466988, -96.4364014

18. Longton Cemetery
Longton, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3922501, -96.0698624

19. Goble Farm Cemetery
Severy, Greenwood County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6351600, -96.2813800

20. South Lawn Cemetery
Severy, Greenwood County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6342010, -96.2422028

21. Twin Groves Cemetery
Severy, Greenwood County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6357994, -96.2422028

22. Busby Cemetery
Busby, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4595299, -96.0423126

23. Mount Zion Cemetery
Cave Springs, Elk County, USA
Coordinate: 37.5844002, -96.0980988

24. Gage Cemetery
Fall River, Greenwood County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6208400, -96.1466100