Joe C. Morrow
Joseph Carroll Morrow, beloved teacher, principal, coach and church leader, died unexpectedly Monday, May 18. He was 93.
Born at the family home in Bowlegged Valley on Feb. 6, 1933, he was the oldest child of Carroll and Velma Fincher Morrow. Joe grew up working with horses and cattle on the family farm and graduated from Clyde High School in 1951. He attended Western Carolina Teachers College until 1953, when he joined the Marine Corps. He spent two years serving in Hawaii and was discharged with the rank of sergeant in March of 1956.
While working at Dayco that summer, Joe met the love of his life, Sue Campbell. That fall, he enrolled in the University of Tennessee, and Joe and Sue married on Dec. 23, 1956. They shared a devoted 69 years of marriage.
After graduating in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, Joe taught vocational agriculture in Emporia, Va., for 15 months before the Morrows moved to Murphy where Joe would again teach agriculture. In 1962 they moved to Andrews, where Joe taught ag classes and served as an assistant football coach.
In 1968, Joe became director of adult education at Tri County Community College, where he served for 5 ½ years, obtaining his master’s degree in education and a degree as an education specialist before moving to Brevard to serve as assistant principal at Brevard High School. During this time the couple adopted their infant son, Brian.
In 1975, Joe became director of adult education at Blue Ridge Community College in Henderson County, a role he held for four years. However, Joe missed working with young people and so was hired as principal of Edneyville High School, where he served from 1979 until 1983.
Former students remember Joe as a strong and consistent disciplinarian who also became a fierce advocate for their rural school and displayed a deep love for, and confidence in, its young people.
Seeking new challenges, Joe and Sue returned to Andrews, where he served as high school principal at Andrews High School and later retired from education as a county assistant superintendent of education in 1989. He also served one term as the mayor of Andrews.
In 1989, Sue suffered a catastrophic stroke which doctors warned would leave her totally incapacitated or lead to her death. Joe refused to accept their diagnosis, declaring God had told him otherwise. He became his wife’s dedicated caregiver, and through their mutual determination and faith, Sue recovered her ability to walk, drive and travel, allowing them another three decades together.
After a 50-year absence, the Morrows returned to Bowlegged Valley to allow Joe to care for family members. They became members of Crabtree United Methodist Church, where Joe served in many capacities, including membership on the church council and as chair of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee.
The Morrows enjoyed traveling together, visiting all 50 of the United States as well as taking trips to Canada. Joe especially enjoyed camping, water skiing, golf and his work. He was a Mason, affiliated with the Andrews Lodge.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his brothers, James and Johnny Morrow and his sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth Morrow. He was also preceded in death by his son, Brian, who died in a car accident in 1993, and an infant daughter, Susan Elizabeth Morrow.
The family will receive friends from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Crabtree United Methodist Church, with the funeral service following at 4 p.m. The Rev. David Reeves will officiate, and military rites will follow.
Pallbearers will be: James Reid, Jacob Reid, Morgan Lunsford, Tim West, Ted Paul, Scott West, Ed Tallant and James McLean. Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Moore, Terry Moore, Billy Lackey, Richard Trull, Scott Dockery, Darren Wade, James “Jaybird” Ellis and John Wilson.
Memorials may be made to Crabtree United Methodist Church, 5405 Crabtree Road, Clyde NC 28721.