James Paul Morris, a Lake Charles native, known for his wit and artistic ability, passed away on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, following a long struggle with a rare chronic illness. He was 59.
Paul, as he was known to his close friends and family, grew up in Lake Charles, where he was born and where his family returned in 1972 after living in Panama, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Connecticut. He graduated from Barbe High School in 1981 and went on to study graphic design at Louisiana State University, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and where his cartoons were featured regularly in The Daily Reveille student newspaper.
Paul was married to Christy (nee Simmons) Morris and they had one daughter, Rebecca Tian Morris. As an adult, Paul lived for more than two decades in Tooele, Utah, where we worked for the Utah Transit Authority until five years ago, when he and his family moved to Ozark, Missouri.
Preceding Paul in death are his parents, Billie June and James Walter Morris, Jr., and grandparents Ruby and Dennis Mizell and Belle and James Walter Morris, Sr. He is survived by his wife and daughter, as well as by his sister, Sharon Morris Schierling.
A private burial will take place in Missouri, with a memorial celebration of life to be scheduled at a later date.