ALLA RAY KUYKENDALL MORRIS, 79, died on
May 25, 1995 in Eastland, TX, with interment at
Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger, TX.
She was born in Moody, TX on Jan. 18, 1916 to
Dr. Peree Moran Kuykendall & Alla Ray Elliott
Kuykendall. Alla Ray, as everyone knew her, grew
up in Ranger & graduated from Ranger High School
in 1932. After attending Ranger Jr. College, she
went on to receive her Bachelor in Arts from the
University of Texas, where she was a member of Pi
Beta Phi Sorority. She later received a Master of
Arts from Western State College of Colorado in 1958.
Mrs. Morris did post-graduate work in England at
London University, the University of California &
North Texas State University.
She married James Preston Morris in 1941 in Fort
Worth. The couple made their home in Ranger and
owned Morris Funeral Home. She began her career in
education by teaching fourth grade for seven years
at the Hodges Oak Park Elementary School, and later
teaching English and serving as Department head at
Ranger Jr. College where she retired after 30 years
of service. Upon retirement, she served a member,
secretary, and president of the Board of Regents
for Ranger Jr. College until 1983, at which time her
mother's health required her full attention. She
was a noted educator, was often credited by school
officials with having exceptional leadership and
teaching qualities, earning the love and respect
of her students and co-workers.
A pillar of the community, Mrs. Morris was a member
and supporter of the first United Methodist Church
for 40 years. Other memberships include the American
Association of University Women, the 47 Club, the
1920 Club, the Columbia Study Club, and the first
member of the Ranger Historical Preservation Society.
She held various offices in each organization.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James P.
Morris in 1948. Survivors at the time of her death
include one cousin, Zora Mae Bryant of Cross Plains.
FATHER: DR. PEREE MORAN KUYKENDALL, 67,
died May 28, 1959. He was born Aug. 16, 1892. He
married Alla Ray Elliott in 1912. They had a daughter,
Alla Ray Kuykendall Morris. He served as Captain in
France during WWI. Mr. Kuykendall was a doctor in
Desdemona when he bought the West Texas Clinic in
Ranger, TX from Dr. Barnett in 1930.
MOTHER: ALLA RAY ELLIOTT KUYKENDALL died
April 19, 1988, Alla Ray, the second daughter of
Josephine Reeves & Richard Buckner Elliott, was
born Nov. 20, 1892 in Troy, TX. She was reared
in Muskogee, OK, and attended Fulton College for
Women in Fulton, MO.
She and Dr. P.M. Kuykendall were married at Moody,
TX, in 1912. Following his service as a Captain in
France during World War I, they lived in Desdemona,
TX until 1930 when the family moved to Ranger.
Dr. Kuykendall died in 1959. Mrs. Kuykendall was a
member of First United Methodist Church in Ranger for
56 years and was a soloist in the church choir for
many years. She was honored with a lifetime membership
pin from the women's society of the church. For more
than 40 years she was a volunteer in Ranger Child
Welfare Club and acted as boy's camp selection officer
from Ranger for the Salvation Army for 20 years.
Mrs. Kuykendall was a donor to Ranger General Hospital
and was made an honorary lifetime member of the hospital
auxiliary. Kuykendall Hall, a women's dormitory at Ranger
Junior College, was named to honor Dr. and Mrs. Kuykendall.
She was elected honorary membership in the Phi Beta Theta.
In 1972, Alla Ray Kuykendall was named Ranger Woman of
the Year. She was among the organizers of Lone Cedar
Country Club & was a member of the Auxiliary of Veterans
of World War I and the Columbia Study Club.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Kuykendall was survived
by her daughter, Mrs. James Preston Morris (RHS-1932),
of Ranger; her nephew's widow, Mrs. R. Elliott Bryant,
of Cross Plains; two nieces-in-law, Mrs. A.M. Allison
of Alice, TX, and Mrs. Spurgeon Bell of Houston, TX;
and a nephew-in-law, Mr. Fred Acre of Moody, TX.