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David Morris, husband of Professor Christine Ballengee Morris, passes away

October 19, 2016

David Morris, husband of Professor Christine Ballengee Morris, passes away

Christine Ballengee Morris, David Morris, and their family at the Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise

This content is modified from the obituary of David E. Morris.

David E. Morris, 72, husband of AAEP Professor Christine Ballengee Morris, died October 14, 2016 after an intense battle with brain cancer. Dr. Ballengee Morris has been caring for David this semester as his illness progressed rapidly. He passed at his home in Pickerington, Ohio with his wife and sons, friends and family around him.

David Morris was born in Clay County, Ivydale, West Virginia on April 6, 1944. He was a third generation balladeer—a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, and a tradition bearer of the musical heritage of the old time Appalachian Mountain music of West Virginia. In 1965, David Morris was selected to represent West Virginia folk music at the New York World's Fair. In 1982, he represented Kentucky's Berea College at the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and from the National Endowment For The Arts followed. In 1996, he made his second appearance at the prestigious Chicago Folk Festival.

David and his wife Christine met at the West Virginia Vandalia Festival in 1984 and married in 1988.

David enjoyed a distinguished recording career. In addition to appearing on nine albums he provided music for the 1977 Oscar winning documentary by Barbara Kopple, Harlan County U. S. A, and the BBC film, In a Dead Mans Shoes. Recently he and son Jack Morris provided the music for Barbara Kopple’s film, Shelter (2015) which tells a story of vets saving vets, delving into the psychological trauma created by military service, the effects that remain long after active duty, and the difficult road back to a normal life for these women and men.

David was truly larger than life: an epic storyteller, a touching musician, a charming man, the life of the party, and someone who could make you laugh and cry all in the same conversation. He loved people, and could see the best in everyone. He served his country in Vietnam as a combat medic, saving many lives along the way.

David is survived by his wife Dr. Christine Ballengee Morris, and sons, Major Jason Meisel (Sylvia Meisel) and Jack Ballengee Morris, and his grandchildren Alerio Murillo, and Julian and Jonas Meisel. 

Dr. Ballengee Morris has invited interested faculty, staff, and students of the department to join the Morris family in a celebration of David's life, 7 to 10 p. m. Friday, October 21 at her home in Pickerington. Please bring a dish to share and beverage.