Charles "Charlie" Herman Morris

Charles "Charlie" Herman Morris, longtime Mexia Businessman, passed away February 19, 2025 in Mexia at the age of 78.  Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Calvary Baptist Church with Reverend Shane Norcross officiating.  Interment will follow in the Coolidge Cemetery.  Taylor Montgomery, Joe Montgomery, Jason Ridge, Shaun Ridge, Gary Findley, and Kyle Hancock will serve as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Threat, Bill Groth, Jess Whisler, Pat Simmons, Blaine Schulte, and Dr. Bill Lowry. Visitation with the family will be 6-8 p.m., Friday at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home.

Charlie was born and raised in Lewisville, TX to James and Beulah Morris . From an early age, his strength of character shined after his father passed. To fill the hole that his father left, he left the education system early to help support his mother and his siblings. Family was and has always been his number one priority. In 1972, he moved to Mexia, Texas and opened up C&J Auto Repair in 1975 that he ran for 48 ½ years. He probably would still be working it to this day if he hadn’t been for his numerous health complications. He was the kind of business man that went above an beyond for his community, from taking calls at all hours of the day to letting patrons pay as they could, the only thing he cared about was helping the people in his community. 

Charlie was a man of many passions. His love of cars started at a young age and he was drawn to the racing world. From drag races in Ennis to NASCAR, if he could be there he was. As a father, he tried to be as involved as he could in his children’s sports passions. Umpiring for his kids baseball and softball games brought him great joy, but don’t think for a second that he allowed favoritism. He was probably harder on them than the rest of the players. His joy of parenting then was translated into his love for the numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren that he was blessed with. Nothing made him happier than to spend time with them, playing with them and making them laugh, telling them stories of his younger years and involving them in his hobbies. From teaching them trick of the trade, to getting them to do some of the less desirable tasks around the house, you could bet he could always find them something to do so they had something to do. 

Outside of family and work, he loved to go hunting with his friends when the season was right. His tastes ranged from small game such as dove and squirrel to larger game like deer. He always made sure to keep a hunting lease and a bottle of whiskey in hand to share with his buddies. 

As we come up on spring time, he will be missed greatly at his shared home with Brenda appropriately named “Critter Creek Casa”. Their shared passion of raising cattle brought with it the miracle of life with each calf that was born. Seeing the calves in the pasture from his front porch and taking care of them when their mother’s could brought him such joy and he made sure to share that with the grandkids as much as he could.

His legacy will continue to inspire us all and live through the friends and family he left behind. 

Charlie is survived by his wife, Brenda Sanderson Ridge; daughters, Melissa Morris and Melinda Gage; son, Charlie Morris Jr. (Meagan Morris); stepson, Jason Ridge (Angela Ridge). Also grandson, Justin Waller (Laura Waller); granddaughters, Laney Waller and Destiney Dabney (Dillon Dabney) Savannah and Bailee Sharp; step grandsons, Daniel Ridge and Shaun Ridge. Great grand kids, included Eva and Ava Hayes, Lyssa Sisk; Revan, Juhani (JJ), Emberly and Byrdie Dabney; Levi and Lexi Waller. Also his sisters, Faye Waters (Roy Waters) and Sharon Guice (James Guice). There are numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, brothers, James Morris and Gene Morris; sisters, Betty Morris and Joy England and grandson Gavin Gage.