Morris 'Mo' Edwin Speck Jr., 84
Morris ‘Mo’ Edwin Speck Jr., 84
Morris “Mo” Edwin Speck Jr., 84, passed away Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, at Expressions Assisted Living in Columbia Falls. He was born on June 2, 1928, in Houston, and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. He was raised by his mother Hazel and stepfather D.Y. Steph. Though Morris was an only child, he grew up surrounded by a large extended family. He spent most of his early years on a farm. As he got older he spent time working on cars with his dad, hunting, riding in rodeos, and boxing in the Golden Gloves.
After graduating from high school, Morris joined the Marine Corps and was assigned sea duty in the Pacific Islands and China. After being discharged for a knee injury, he lived in New Mexico, where he was a pilot and opened gas stations in Santa Fe and Albuquerque which both failed.
He then moved to Borger, Texas, with his wife Shirley to start his long career with Phillips Petroleum. While working his way up at Phillips, he attended Frank Phillips College and earned an engineering degree. Morris eventually became plant manager of Philblack, and was later promoted to an executive position in Bartlesville, Okla. After three years, he was promoted again and transferred to Akron, Ohio, where he became general manager of the Worldwide Carbon Black Division, putting him in charge of operations and sales of 17 plants. He retired from Phillips after 30 years in 1984, and moved to Montana where he purchased the 66 Ranch near Kila.
Morris will always be remembered for his kindness, good sense of humor and great stories. He was a true Southern gentleman who loved his family and his many friends.
Morris is survived by his ex-wife, Shirley Steele, of Longmont, Colo.; four children, Timothy Speck of Huntsville, Texas, Stephen Speck and Delila of Orange, Texas, Paul Speck of Windsor, Colo., and Felecia Speck of Kalispell; grandchildren, Brandi, Jessica and Christopher; and great-grandchildren, Parker, Bryden and Harmony.
Memorial services for Morris will be held at noon on Thursday, Nov. 29, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel. A reception will follow at the Elks.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Morris’s family. You are invited to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Morris’s tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.