Morris French

Morris Allen French was born July 16, 1950, to Maurice and Mildred Jean Hagan French in Evansville, Indiana. He spent his childhood and received his education in the Evansville Public Schools, graduating from Reitz High School. In 1969, he was married to Kristina Hoeche.

In April 1970, he was drafted into the army and deployed to Vietnam for two years. Two daughters were born to this marriage, Michelle and Jennifer. He enjoyed many forms of outdoor life and going to parks with his daughters. He worked at Whirlpool for nineteen years. Dad was a man of multiple interests. Some of which were participating in local acting groups, reading, hunting and fishing, camping, and many other outdoor activities. He loved learning to do new things, including wood working, chalk sketching, and defensive martial arts. His adventurous nature led him to live in numerous states for short periods of time as he pursued his interests. 

Over the years, mental illness made it increasingly difficult for him to sustain relationships with people. But he was able to find companionship in the various pets he kept. He eventually moved to a small ranch in Viola, Arkansas, where he felt at home raising horses in the last years of his life. Dad suffered a heart attack in June of this year. The last three years of his life his health declined. He suffered a stroke and shortly passed away at Baptist Health Medical Center, North Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 2, 2022, reaching the age of 72 years.

He is survived by his two daughters: Michelle and Russell Classen, Macon, Mississippi; Jennifer and Matt Dunivan, North Webster, Indiana; seven grandchildren; Mark and wife, Leslie; Ryan, Amber, Hayley and husband, Masazumi; Cory, Katelyn, Falon; three great-granddaughters; three sisters, and one brother. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.   

Visitation will be at 12:00 PM Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at the American Legion 52 in Mountain Home, Arkansas with a funeral service following at 1:00 PM. Interment will be held at a later date.