Lawrence Ray Morris

Lawrence Ray Morris died November 27, 2024, of pancreatic cancer. He was born in San Diego, California, on June 22, 1944 and grew up in California, Morocco, and Germany. He attended Fairmont State College and received his medical degree from West Virginia University. He served six years in the US Navy, including four years as flight surgeon for the Blue Angels. He opened his private practice specializing in endocrinology in Kingsport, TN, in 1980 and later joined Holston Medical Group until 2011. He was also an associate professor at Quillen College of Medicine.

Music was his hobby. He played French horn in both the Kingsport Community Band and the Johnson City Community Concert Band for more than 40 years. He also ran a music recording business, Magnetic Memories, for 30 years.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harry E. and Lorraine Morris, and daughter, Janice Morris Claytor. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Simon Morris; daughters Wendy Morris (Larry Lyons) and Stacey Morris (Christopher McGoldrick); son-in-law Robert Claytor II; brother Edward Morris (Linda) and sisters Marietta Mort and Elizabeth Bear (Thomas); and grandchildren Linden Claytor Standley, Weston Claytor, and Alexis Lyons-Morris.

Visitation will be held at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home in Kingsport, TN on Monday, December 16 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. He will be laid to rest at Mountain Home National Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kingsport Community Band, 257 South Creek Ct, Kingsport, TN 37663 or the Johnson City Community Concert Band, PO Box 5862, Johnson City, TN 37602.