Honoring Larry Morris

October 2016 ended as a very sad month for us. We at Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp lost a great friend, volunteer, and ambassador, Larry Morris. 

CMSGT Larry "Chief" Morris, 75, of East Peoria passed away at 10:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, at Snyder Village in Metamora, Illinois.

Larry was with the Peoria Air National Guard for 35 years, retiring in 1994 as Chief Master Sergeant, being one of the youngest to achieve that rank. He was a member of the Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp since its inception in 2004 and served as a founding board member.

Larry, along with his wife and caregiver, Georgia, have volunteered at our camps since its inception in 2004. Larry survived his stroke for 18 years and in the last eleven years with us he gave hope and comfort to hundreds of other stroke survivors, sea to sea, border to border, across our nation. He is and will always be greatly missed.  

"Larry and his wife Georgia have been active as Board members and volunteers at Stroke Camp since the very first camp in 2004. Larry was an inspiration to all survivors he met all across the country. We will hold dear many very special memories. We know that Georgia will continue to bless us with her volunteerism through the next phase of life. We certainly are better for having known Larry, who was loved by all." - Marylee Nunley, Executive Director Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp

Larry receiving an award from Marylee in 2009 for best dressed camper

Larry loved to fish - 2010 at the Tiskilwa, Illinois camp

Larry showed he still had the touch the next year at the Lincoln, Nebraska camp

Larry with his wife Georgia on the way to a 2011 Kentucky camp

Larry with Cheri, one of his daughters and camp volunteer

Larry getting into the 1960's spirit at the 2005 camp  

Larry wore many hats as a volunteer ambassador for the camp

Larry was Chief Master Sergeant in the Air National Guard prior to his stroke so the following site had a very special meaning to him. We were on our way to one of the Lincoln, Nebraska stroke camps and he and Georgia wanted to stop and see this. It's called Freedom Rock. 

I have a lot of good memories with Larry and Georgia. Some of them involved traveling with them to out of state camps. Normally all our camp crafts, supplies, skit things, audio/visual equipment, drum circle instruments, etc. are hauled in the camp van but sometimes we have two camps scheduled for the same weekend so we need another way to get the stuff to the second camp. They had a truck with a hitch, the camp had a trailer full of stuff that needed towed, and I knew how to drive. Perfect! 

My other memories are going out for lunch back home every so often with him and John Nunley, a stroke survivor also, co-founder of the camp and husband of Marylee our Executive director. I liked those lunches and traveling with Larry. Yes, Larry is missed.

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