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Aug. 29, 1941 – Jan. 8, 2024

JONESVILLE – Morris Miller Willson, Sr., 82, of Monterey, LA, died on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Alexandria, LA.

Morris was born on Aug. 29, 1941, in Ferriday, LA. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and community member.

Over his lifetime, Morris raised and trained award-winning horses, farmed cattle and catfish, and trained champion cowboys. He started a professional rodeo in Jonesville, LA, that attracted competitors from all over the country to participate. He was a Gold Card Member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

He served eight years on the Concordia Parish Police Jury, where he also served as President.

In 2019, he was honored as a Louisiana Land Legacy by the Louisiana Century Farm Program for having owned family farmland for 100 years or more.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward “Yank” Miller Willson and Maurice Elnora Crouch Willson; sister, Mary Amelia Willson Duncan; nephew, Walter “Will” Willson Duncan; and dear friend, Kenneth Hedricks.

He leaves behind the love of his life of 64 years, Gloria Duncan Willson of Monterey, LA; daughter, Debbie Willson of Monterey, LA; son, Robin Willson and his wife, Misty; daughter-in-law, Bridget Brown; grandchildren, Jesse Miller Poole and his wife, Lauren; LeeAnna Willson Callon; Hayden Miller Willson and his wife, Baler; Ashlee Breann Willson; and Colton Edward Willson and Jeanne Trahan; great-grandchildren, Madison Elizabeth Poole, Braden Burrill Poole, Cameryn Miller Willson, and Chandler Wayne Willson; and dear friends, Barry Maxwell and Faye Ford.

Those serving as pallbearers are Hayden Willson, Braden Poole, Colton Willson, Jesse Poole, Cameryn Willson, Riley Duncan, Robin Willson, and John Bennett Fudicker.

Honorary pallbearers will be Red “Tommy” Tiffee, Jack Mount, Riley Calhoun, Barry Maxwell, Craig Edwards, Bill Brown, Mark Taylor, Pete Wheeler, Will Burley, Buster Ford, Donald Lippman, Boyd McCoy, and Bobby Goodspeed.

The family will receive friends at Lismore Baptist Church on Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 5 until 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at Lismore Baptist Church on Thursday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. with Brother Ken Gilmore officiating. Interment will follow at Moro Plantation in Monterey, LA, under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lismore Baptist Church.