Samuel Alma Morris (Sam) was born 18 December 1951 in Logan, Utah to Harold & Vivian (Parry) Morris, he was number 7 of 13 children. He always thought this was ideal because he knew the siblings older than him as well as the siblings younger than him.

Sam loved flying from an early age, he spent many hours beginning at age 3 in the back seat of an airplane while his dad taught flying lessons. He also was born with "the knack" and could fix anything, but only wanted to if he could do it correctly and completely. When he was a young boy, his dad gave him an old alarm clock so he could take it apart. He opened it up and said "Oh, I see!", all the gears and moving parts just made sense to him.

His father always worked 2 or 3 jobs supporting his large family. One of his extra jobs was paint contracting. Sam would go along with his dad and siblings to learn and help.

He lived in Logan from age 10 to 12 while his dad was working on his master's degree. He really liked it there and had many friends.

After his father finished his degree, his family moved to San Luis Obispo, California where his dad taught Agribusiness at Cal Poly. Sam didn't love the move at first but soon made two lifelong friends (Tom Larson & Kelsey Phelps) who spent a lot of their time riding motorcycles when Sam wasn't working at Scott's butcher shop through high school.

It was in San Lois Obispo that he began his official flight training from his dad, he flew before he drove. The Viet Nam conflict was raging throughout his high school years. He applied for and qualified for Warrant Officer's Flight School but Sam declined because he had hopes of serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When his draft number came in low he tried to apply again to the school but it was closed. He chose instead to enlist in the army so that he could choose his own path.

Sam chose to specialize in Aircraft Mechanics and attended the Fort Rucker Alabama school where he graduated first in his class of 300. He was sent to Vietnam where he had been chosen for the Army Security Agency and worked on De Havilland Beavers containing top secret radio equipment. He was a crew chief and earned his observer wings while also volunteering to be an unofficial Huey door gunner. Vietnam was a very formative time for Sam and there were things physically, mentally, and emotionally that he carried with him for the rest of his life.

After the war, Sam used his GI Bill for flight training in Coeur'd Alene, Idaho. He worked on his licenses and seaplane rating and met and fell in love with Bonnie Selman. They were married for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on 14 June 1977. Sam dedicated his life to taking care of her, always making sure she felt good, which she always did. But Bonnie never minimized these daily inquiries knowing they came from a place of pure love and concern for her and from a body that couldn't imagine feeling good every day.

Sam and Bonnie began their family and moved to St. George, Utah where Sam attended Dixie College to earn his A&P mechanic's license, and commercial, instrument and flight instructor certificate and licenses. He spent many years flying charters, flight instructing and working on airplanes. They eventually moved to Blanding, Utah where he worked as the Director of Maintenance for Eagle Air Med for 14 years.

Sam loved his family and spent his life serving them. His kids and grandkids were his world and greatest joy. He lived with chronic pain but never let that stop him from working on cars, helping to move multiple family members, or whatever other service needs he became aware of. He was kind, gentle and patient with everyone around him. He loved children and they loved him. He didn't turn away a single sibling, niece or nephew in need, opening his home to many throughout the years. Sam never missed an opportunity to hunt, go on a flight, or spend his time at a fishing hole and loved when his family could join him in these activities.

He said if he could be an animal, it would be an eagle so he could fly, hunt and fish every day.

Those who know and love him will miss his incredible sense of humor and the way he could make us all laugh. Sam and Bonnie loved to laugh together daily, he could always make her smile with his favorite line picked up somewhere long ago: "You're so beautiful, and I'm so wretched". He entertained his grandkids with stories of that "dang baby bobcat" who would steal his treats while he was fishing. There are an endless number of adventures and stories with Sam and his siblings, children, nieces and nephews that could keep us entertained and laughing for hours. Sam definitely brought the fun where ever he went.

Sam returned to his Heavenly home on 21 September 2021, the first day of his favorite season. A beautiful, calm fall day without a cloud in the sky complete with a stunning full moon.

Perfect flying weather!

Sam is survived by his wife Bonnie, children Robert (Jamie) Morris, Katie (Manase) Tesi, Annie (Haine) Tautua'a, & Thomas Morris, and 12 grandchildren, six granddaughters and six grandsons.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, 4 October 2021 at 11 am at the Cedar Fort Chapel. A viewing will be held that morning from 10:00-10:45. Services will conclude at Camp Williams where Sam will be laid to rest.