Evelyn Morris Ferree, 92, of Forest City, peacefully passed into the next world Saturday, the sixteenth of November, 2013 at her home. She was born to Robert Edward Morris and Mary Lenora Weeks Morris of Westminster, NC on March 8, 1921.
Evelyn grew up attending Brittain Presbyterian Church. Upon her mother’s death when Evelyn was 8 years old, she aspired to become a nurse. She subsequently graduated from Presbyterian School of Nursing in Charlotte in 1941. During that time, she met James Ferree and they became engaged. While she was working surgery at Presbyterian, Pearl Harbor was attacked and they both entered military service, where they continued their courtship by mail. In the Army Nurse Corps, she trained throughout the United States and in August 1943, sailed “destination unknown”. Landing in North Africa, she shortly deployed to an evacuation hospital at the front line in Italy, where she served through Victory in Europe. She then boarded a ship, again for parts unknown, and after almost three months at sea and surviving two typhoons, arrived in Guam, later deploying to Okinawa. After the war, she returned as a 1st Lieutenant and arrived at her home in Westminster, Thanksgiving of 1945.
On April 6, 1946, she and James were married. They made their home in Caroleen and she became an active member of Avondale United Methodist Church, where James first joined in 1927. Evelyn continued her passion for helping those in need, working thirty years as a Rutherford County Public Health Nurse. Her greatest County Nurse pleasure was visiting the public schools, tending to the health of many children.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Marshall Ferree -- their loving relationship lasting over sixty years, by her parents, and by her four brothers and one sister: John Morris (killed in action in WWII), Robert Morris, Ovid Morris, Arnold Morris, and Walda Morris Carpenter. She is survived by her son, James “Jimmy” Morris Ferree of Asheville, NC.
Evelyn’s abundant care and concern will be missed by all who knew her. Her love for her family was immeasurable.
Special thanks to the caregivers that helped her remain at the home she loved: Mickey Miller, Susan Barnett, Elaine Murray, Asia Green, and Sylvia Tate.
The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at Avondale United Methodist Church with Reverend Gary Coffey and Reverend Robert Hodgens officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 2 p.m. at the church. A private entombment will take place at Cleveland Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Avondale United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 266, Henrietta, NC 28076.
