Dean A. Morris

Dean A. Morris

 

Dean Allen Morris 57, of Fort Dodge, passed away at his home Sunday, November 20, 2011. 

 Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. November 28th, 2011 at Bruce-Graham Funeral Home.  Visitation will be held Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.   Dean was born on October 2, 1954 to Dale and Deloris (Bruce) Morris.  Dean received his education in the Fort Dodge Community School District, graduating from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1972.  Dean worked at Messenger Printing, Economy Printing, Fort Dodge Music Center, and Anderson Station.   Dean is survived by his wife, Shirley (Mileham); daughter, Abby of Mexico; parents, Dale and Deloris Morris of Fort Dodge; his brothers, Dale (Ann) Morris of Des Moines and Dan (Deb) Morris of Fort Dodge; several nieces and nephews; many great nieces and nephews; and his special pets Penny and Bridget. Dean's life was his music and his music was his gift to the world.  Dean began playing guitar after receiving his first one as a Christmas present from his parents as a child.  He was a self taught musician and played by ear for many years.  Dean started his first band in elementary school and their first gig was playing at the mall in Fort Dodge on a hay wagon.  In the 70s he was part of the PAX band.  They played rock-n- roll and songs that they had written. The next band he was a part of was the Iowa Lite String Band where he was known for playing the guitar and fiddle.  In 1980 he joined the Ski Band and was still with them at the time of his death.  He wrote the music and the lyrics to many of the songs that the band played.  Dean and the band were inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame in 2010.  He and the band played at the first ABATE in Humboldt, Iowa.  They had the privilege of playing with some great bands such as Steppenwolf, Jon Kay, Johnny Rodriguez, Blue Oyster Cult, Grand Funk, Head East, Iron Butterfly, Molly Hatch, and the Byrds.   Dean produced his own CD in 2008 of Christmas music.  He was the sole musician on the CD, playing every instrument, recording it, and then overlapping them onto each other to create the music.  Each piece had a Dean touch to it.   In 2010 he produced DEAN a CD with him playing the blues again playing every instrument.  Dean has played country, 50s and 60s music, rock and roll, and heavy metal.  Later in life Dean learned to read music and this is when he began to give lessons.  Dean inspired many of the young musicians that he had the privilege of teaching.  He was known most for his mad guitar skills; but he also played keyboard, drums, banjo, fiddle, harp, harmonica, and anything else he set his mind to.  It was common knowledge he could pick up an instrument, mess with it for awhile, and within no time he would be playing that instrument.  Besides his music he was also known for his ability to repair and restore instruments, his wood carvings, his artistic ability, and his painting skills. 

 

Fort Dodge Area Funeral & Cremation Service, Bruce Funeral Home