Mary Caras Morris

Mary Caras Morris, 93, of Missoula, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 28th, 2013.
Mary was the eldest of four children, born on November 29, 1919, in Thompsonville, Connecticut to James and Anna Caras. As a child she grew up in Taunton, Massachusetts. Mary was fluent in Greek, and while the family lived in the French quarter of Taunton, mastered French before learning English as a third language in grade school. Then during the Great Depression, she and her family relocated to Flint, Michigan.
Mary was forced to drop out of school and work to help provide for her family. She had several interesting jobs, but particularly enjoyed working as a telephone operator for Michigan Bell. In 1946, Mary moved to Montana to start her own family, but eventually moved back to Michigan to raise her three children following a divorce from her first husband. Mary then decided to pursue a career in nursing, and received her license while living in Michigan. Then in 1963, she moved her family back to Montana permanently.
Mary worked as a LPN for over 30 years, first at the VA Medical Center at Fort Harrison, and later at a nursing home in Stevensville. It was while working at Fort Harrison that Mary met the love of her life, Earl Morris, and they married on November 23, 1968. They resided in Helena, Greece, Clancy, Stevensville, and finally settled in Missoula. They were happily married for 35 years until his passing in 2003.
Mary was adventurous and loved to travel. During the few years spent living in Samos, Greece, the birthplace of her parents, Mary ended up meeting her future daughter-in-law, Desi. Mary also traveled to France, Italy, Spain, and almost all of the 50 states in the course of her lifetime. She loved to cook and spend time outside gardening and rockscaping. She also was an avid book reader who always advised her children to "read everything." Fiercely independent and strong willed, Mary lived on her own up until her recent hospitalization.
She was extremely vibrant and an inspiration to many who knew her. She will be missed but never forgotten.
Mary is survived by her sister Elaine Mugan of Flushing, MI; three children: Linda C. Jakub (Lawrence), of Fish Creek; John E. Larson (Desi) of Hamilton; Eileen C. Robbins (Jon Rutkowske) of Missoula and adopted daughter Jennifer M. Larson-Popnoe (Justin), of Scottsdale, AZ. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and her dog Grizzly.
She was preceded in death by her parents James and Anna Caras, brother George Caras, sister Eugenia "Tootsie" Reynolds and loving husband Earl Morris.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at Garden City Funeral Home.
Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com


Read Mary Morris's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.