Milton John "Jack" Morrill

MILTON JOHN “JACK” MORRILL Milton John “Jack” Morrill passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2006 at his home in Cortez surrounded by the family that loved him. Funeral services, officiated by Pastor Larry Chappell will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, at Lighthouse Baptist Church. A private family interment will follow the service. Milton John “Jack” Morrill was born August 1, 1926 in Rush, Colo. The son of Albert and Abby Morrill, he was the seventh of nine children. During his formative years, Jack helped his family by working on the family farm. Working on the farm Jack developed a love for horses and cattle. Following that love he moved to Wyoming to work on a cattle ranch, tending to the herds of cattle and breaking horses for the ranch. During WWII Jack served in the United States Army. It was during his time in the Army that he developed a keen interest in automobiles, trucks and diesel trucks. After the war ended, Jack met Jean Alexander. They were married April 19, 1950. During the next thirteen years they lived in Uravan, Colo., were blessed with four children and Jack worked hauling uranium ore for Union Carbide, transporting the ore to mills throughout the state. The family then moved to Montrose, Colo. where Jack owned and operated an apple orchard. He also started his own trucking company hauling gravel for the Forest Service. His leisure time was spent riding horses with his family and the Lariat Saddle Club. In 1978, Jack and Jean moved to Cortez where he owned and operated a trucking business hauling gravel for road construction, servicing oil fields locally, hauling freight nationally and providing environmental waste transportation services in Silverton, Colo. During his trucking career Jack logged over three million miles as a professional driver. Jack’s recreational time in Cortez was spent riding all-terrain vehicles. He was a member of the Four Corners Trail Club and was instrumental in developing, maintaining, opening and working with the Forest Service to establish new trails in the area. Jack was always right there to help new or inexperienced riders be safe and learn to enjoy the sport. Jack possessed a tremendous thirst for knowledge. Throughout his life he was an avid reader, reading hundreds of books covering many subjects of interest to him. Of the many books read, his Bible was always most important to him. His strong belief in God and his church were of utmost importance to him. He served as a Deacon for twenty years under three pastors between the Montrose Christian Church and Lighthouse Baptist Church. The mission work of the church was also dear to him. He supported and advocated for church missions’ work and personally visited missions in Mexico, Uganda, Africa and Thailand with Pastor Larry Chappell and other Lighthouse Baptist Church members. Jack’s love of children also led him to support and volunteer at the Lighthouse Academy where he spent many hours helping teachers and children. He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers; and a daughter. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jean; his children, Galen Morrill and wife, Nancy of Anchorage, Alaska, Gregg Morrill and wife, Mardy of Cortez and Glynnis Lloyd and husband, Michael of Montrose; his grandchildren, Trever Morrill of Cortez, Tierra Morrill of Denver; his sisters, Mary Usher of Aurora, Colo., and Minnie May Rollins of Tenn. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Jack Morrill to Lighthouse Academy, c/o Lighthouse Baptist Church, 11502 Highway 145, Cortez, Colo., 81321.