Individual Details

Times-Standard, Eureka, California, Saturday, July 2, 2005: Nila G. Stevens Morrison. Nila Morrison passed away June 30, 2005, in Eureka at the age of 98. Nila was born in Austin, Minnesota, on December 21, 1906, to Luman D. and Edna Blanchard Stevens. After a childhood spent near Bozeman, Montana, she moved to Eureka with her family. After graduating from college, Nila met her husband, Sidney Morrison. They were married 1943 in Bozeman after a long engagement and Nila lived on her husband's family ranch at Bear River until the early 1990's. At that time she moved to Ferndale, then to Eureka to live with her niece, Sharon Miller and her family. In her teens Nila traveled to California driving a team of horses pulling a covered wagon carrying her mother and "the baby". She went on to attend San Jose State College, Mills College and Humboldt State College from which she graduated in 1929 with a degree in Elementary Education. In the fall of 1929 Nila began her first teaching job at Capetown, a one-room school with nine regular students. The school was located about 15 miles south of Ferndale, California, only a few yards from Bear River. Not owning a car, she rode horseback to get to school everyday. Nila later taught at Petrolia and at Miranda and, at one point in her career, became principal of the Trinidad School. After her marriage, Nila taught at the Upper Bear River school near her home. When that school closed she taught seventh grade in Rio Dell until her retirement in 1966. When teaching at Bear River, Nila often walked or rode horseback to school with one or more of her pupils. Nila and Sid were a devoted couple for more than thirty-eight years, until his death in 1981. They had no children, but were very loving and kind "Aunt Ninie" and Uncle Sid to many nieces and nephews. Always helpful and encouraging, Nila treasured dozens of newspaper clippings telling of the accomplishments, honors and triumphs of several generations of young men and women. Blessed with five brothers, Roy, Paul, Dean, Mac and Norman and six sisters, Bess Kay, Ruby Woosley, Vila Pinkerton, Marion Westfall, Lynne Head and Isabel Garver and their children and a huge circle of friends scattered far and wide, Nila kept very busy writing letters to all of them. After her retirement, early mornings were always spent sitting up in bed with a little lap desk, writing the eagerly awaited letters. She was also an accomplished artist, creating many lovely canvases in watercolor, oil and acrylic paints. Always interested in the community and education Nila was a longstanding member of many professional, community and service organizations including the American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women, California Association of Retired Teachers, Order of Eastern Star, Ferndale Village Club, the Ferndale Museum and the Humboldt Historical Society. Nila is survived by her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sid; her parents; her five brothers and six sisters; nieces, Sharon Stevens Miller, Christine Stevens Lyons, Lily Edna Stevens Petersen, Pearl Woosley Murphy and Merle Edna Woosley Worthington; nephews, Dwight (Bunky) Stevens and Ronald Garver. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2005, at 2:00 PM at the Chapel of the Ferns in Ferndale. Internment will be private. Honorary Pallbearers are Walter Head, Loren Head, Roland Stevens, Roger George, Arthur (Bud) Covington, Frank Benko, Jim Cook, Phil Frame, Sanford Lowry and Bill McBride. Memorial contributions may be made to Northern California Shiners Hospital, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the care of Chapel of the Ferns, Citizens Mortuary. Please sign the guest book at www.times-standard.com click on obits.

Birth	21 Dec 1906	Austin, Mower Co., Minnesota
Residence	1910	Age: 4; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Residence	1920	Age: 14; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Residence	1 Apr 1940	Age: 33; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter - Eureka, Humboldt Co., California
Residence	1 Apr 1940	Age: 33; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter - Eureka, Humboldt Co., California
Marriage	8 Aug 1943	Bozeman, Gallatin Co., Montana - Sidney Murdock Morrison
Death	29 Jun 2005	Eureka, Humboldt Co., California
Race		White
Burial		Ferndale Cemetery, Ferdale, Humboldt Co., California

Spouse

Sidney Murdock Morrison (1898 - 1981)

Father	Luman Dwight Stevens (1874 - 1928)
Mother	Edna Henrietta Blanchard (1875 - 1943)
Sibling	Bessie Vera Stevens (1894 - 1968)
Sibling	Ruby Leona Stevens (1896 - 1984)
Sibling	Roy Orlando Stevens (1898 - 1978)
Sibling	Paul Edward Stevens (1900 - 1969)
Sibling	Marian I. Stevens (1902 - 1996)
Sibling	Vila Edna Stevens (1904 - 1980)
Sibling	Mac Luman Stevens (1908 - 1971)
Sibling	Donald Dean Stevens (1911 - 2002)
Sibling	Lynne A. Stevens (1912 - 1996)
Sibling	Norman F Stevens (1917 - 1999)
Sibling	Isabel Paula Stevens (1921 - 1985)