Obituary: Morris, Joseph Daniel
Born in Spokane, Washington on June 6, 1976, Joe is survived by his mother, Eileen Codd of Spokane; his father, Daniel and his wife Amy of Anacortes; his sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Danen Barnhart of Everett, and their children Campbell, Donovan and Melody; his brother, Jon of Marysville, and Jon’s children Katelyn and Riley; his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Tanya Morris of Arlington and their children Emmaly and Ethan; and great-aunt Martha Young of Stanwood.
Joe graduated from Arlington High School in 1994.
A gifted athlete, he lettered in football, wrestling, baseball and tennis.
He played center field for the 1991 Arlington Area Senior Babe Ruth team that won the state championship and advanced to regional competition.
Joe earned a fire science degree from Skagit Valley College and took additional medical classes at Everett Community College.
He was active in the harvest-diving industry for many years in the San Juan Islands with his father and brothers; worked in the construction trade; and was a Boeing employee for two years.
He loved a tough game of golf with his brother-in-law, Danen, and had a passion for parachuting.
He enjoyed any form of competition with family and friends from horse shoes and bowling to poker and chess.
Joe valiantly struggled with substance dependency.
Ironically, he lived most of his final weeks “clean” and appeared to have a viable exit plan from drug abuse.
He often shared the story of the Camelot weeks he spent in recent years with his sister, Heather, and her family, where daily exercise, good diet, a busy schedule and familial love led him to a point where, to use his words, “I found myself realizing I had not had a (drug) craving for days.”
He is remembered by friends and family for his big smile, big heart and big hugs.
Many mention how the little boy in him seemed ever present.