Jeanne Michele Morris

Jeanne Morris, 73, of Stevensville, Michigan, passed away on December 15, 2017 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Jeanne Michele O’Brien was born on April 21, 1944 in Orange, New Jersey to George and Florence (Sanzo) O’Brien. She attended Blue Mountain Academy in Hamburg, PA, graduating in 1962. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Columbia Union College, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Andrews University, and a Specialist in Education degree in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. Jeanne served in the educational field for over 35 years. Over that time she served as a first-grade teacher, a preschool director, a staff development coordinator, and an elementary principal. She was a trailblazing school administrator and served as the Assistant Superintendent for General Education for the Berrien County Intermediate School District (now Berrien RESA) from 1987 until her retirement. Berrien County students have enjoyed programs such as the Berrien County Mathematics & Science Center, the Lest We Forget educational initiative, and Education for Employment thanks to her visionary leadership. She loved spending time with family and friends, traveling and entertaining, and sailing and boating – and she was particularly well known for her boat docking skills. Her grandchildren will remember her for festive holiday gatherings at ‘The Blue House’, watching movies together, shopping excursions, taking walks along the lakeshore, and her famous chocolate cream pie. She leaves behind her loving and devoted spouse Tedd Roy Morris, whom she married June 21, 1980. She is also survived by her three children, Erin K. Yingst, of Mattawan, Michigan, Aileen (Ross Nova) Yingst of Brunswick, Maine, and Jeremy Robert (Amanda) Yingst of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She has seven grandchildren: Morgan Yingst, Joshua and Rebecca Nova-Yingst, Mace Morris, Madeline and Marshall Yingst, and Wyatt Hale. She is also survived by a sister, Kathleen Sturtevant, of Kingman, Arizona, a brother, James O’Brien, also of Kingsman, Arizona, a sister-in-law, Deb Morris, of St. Joseph, Michigan, and a brother-in-law, Michael Morris, of Palo Alto, California. A private remembrance service will be held at Tosi’s in Stevensville, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan (222 N. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 100; Kalamazoo, MI 49008). Those wishing to send a condolence or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.