Mary Lou Morris

Mary Lou Morris

Mary Louise Reist-Morris went to meet Jesus on June 10, 2026, at The Hamilton Assisted Living Center, surrounded in love by her family. She was 99 years, 1 month, and 17 days old. (If you know, you know.)

Born the 7th and final child of Fred and Mary (Humm) Reist in Seneca, Kansas, on April 24, 1927, she shared a birthday with her older sister, Elinor.

She started first grade at 4, tagging along with her older brother, Rex, to the country school. As they trudged through the deep snow, two of the boys— whether Willis, Wilfred, or Rex— would break the trail while the remaining one would follow behind to pick her up!

When she was old enough, she and her sisters, Arlene, Elinor, and Leola, were allowed to go to the dance hall with her parents. The kids would be dancing in the corner. Grandma always said Mom had music in her feet.

Once graduated from 8th grade at the country school, she attended Seneca High School. She participated in track and graduated as salutatorian at 16.

After turning 18, she moved to Topeka, working for Santa Fe Railroad as a keypunch operator. It was there that she met Kenneth “Dick” Hawes. In September of 1947, they were married.

In 1953, they moved to California. Having given up hope for a child, after eight years of marriage, she gave birth to Dennis Gregory Hawes on December 22, 1955. Oh, how she loved her son! She and Dick later divorced.

She met William “Roy” Morris while working at Standard Press Steel, as that smart devil Roy would screw up his timecard on purpose to visit with Mary Lou! On June 29, 1963, they were married at the Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, Nevada. She continued her work in accounting at large corporations while in southern California.

At the age of 37, and with Roy 45, she gave birth to Kerry Ann (Morris-Hanson) on January 9, 1965. They were the talk of the hospital!

In 1976, they decided to leave the California rat race behind and moved to Hamilton, Montana, and back to their country roots. Raising chickens, beef cows, horses, gardening, and canning. Mary Lou as MLM Bookkeeping, provided accounting services for Mountain Log Homes, Skaws Meats, Evergreen Square, Ace Hardware, which was later Massa Home Center, West Fork Lodge / West Fork Meadows Ranch / Haigh’s Bar, and lastly for Bruce Johnson at Rocky Mountain Siding and Windows.

Upon retiring the first time, she and Roy had the opportunity to travel to California to meet her first “T”, Timothy Scott in 1989. Victoria “Tori” Lynn followed in 1992. Since she later returned to work, she would fly to Orange County to see them, though not as often as she’d have liked.

We FINALLY convinced her to retire again at age 74 when Tristan was born. She gave loving care for him, and later Tanner, that only a Grammy can provide. She would proudly share, “I raised those boys!” and that she did! Troy and I will always be so thankful that she had such a daily presence in their lives.

Mom was an amazing cook and expert baker. From her apple pies— sometimes with added huckleberries for Troy— to homemade buttermilk brownies, baked beans and potato salad, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, as well as cheese sauce, enchilada pie, and peanut brittle. She always had “staples” in the kitchen and could “throw together” an amazing meal with little notice. When you think of her, I am sure a wonderful culinary treat comes to mind!

She was also an incredible seamstress, who perfected her skills sewing for her nieces early on and later for her family. She enjoyed crocheting, reading, and watching game shows. For many years, Roy and Mary Lou square danced to the calling of friend Norma Dudney, in both California and Montana, as well as on the stage at the World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington in 1974.

Mary Lou was an epitome of a consummate wife, mother, and Grammy. After selling her condo in 2012, she moved in with Troy, Kerry, and the boys. You could often find the boys lying on her bed practicing spelling words, math facts, reading to her, or watching a big game with Grammy. A huge thank you to Troy for allowing all of us that intimate time with her. It wasn’t always easy, but it was precious time we all cherished.

Grammy loved attending every athletic and musical endeavor of her children and grands~ From baseball and tennis, football to soccer and synchronized swimming, basketball and golf, piano recitals and choir performances to high school musicals. She loved Hamilton Bronc athletics, watching TnT from her special seat at the corner of the gym floor, and Griz football. She thoroughly enjoyed March Madness! At 98, she beamed with pride as she attended Tristan and Emily’s wedding last July.

Mary Lou was preceded in death in 2003 by her husband, Roy, her parents, and her six siblings. She is survived by her son Dennis with wife Irene, daughter Kerry with husband Troy, and her 4 T’s ~ her grandchildren who were the lights in her life: Major Timothy Hawes, Air Force retired, Victoria “Tori” Hawes and fiancé Troy Wines, Tristan Hanson and wife Emily (who adopted her as her own), & Tanner Hanson and girlfriend Lauren Lindsay. She is also survived by her cherished nieces and nephews in the Midwest. Special friends who loved her too include: Carron & Tom Grymes and family, Sue & Bret Allen, Kathy & Steve Weston, Heidi & Cory Drake and family, Pastor Paul and Gwen Anderson and the amazing “family” of The Hamilton Assisted Living.

A private service will be held with Pastor Paul Anderson presiding, with interment at Riverview Cemetery.

We cannot express our appreciation adequately to The Hamilton Assisted Living and Bitterroot Health Hospice. Both were so vital during these past sixteen months with their love, guidance, and care of Mom AND our family! Memorials may be made in her name to Bitterroot Health Hospice in care of Bitterroot Health Foundation at 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840 or The Hamilton Assisted Living at 235 Old Corvallis Road, Hamilton, MT 59840.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.