Alice Minerva (Wills) Morrow 1894 to 2000 - Generation 6
Alice Minerva (Wills) Morrow 1894 - 2000, taken on her 21st birthday (1915)
Alice Wills was the only child of Joseph Green and Lucinda (Lilly) Wills. She was born in Ellison, W.V. In the spring of 1996 I had the privilege of visiting Mrs. Morrow in her home at Beaver, W.V. At that time, Mrs. Morrow was 102 years old. She and her daughter, Rosella, live together with Mrs. Morrow still keeping house. Although she was frail looking, her mind was sharp and she showed no sign of slowing down.
Mrs. Morrow has outlived three husbands. Her first husband was John J. Garrett who was Rosella's father. They were married about 1912. She married her second husband, Joe Keaton, in 1925. They had no natural children but adopted Robert Joe Keaton. Her third husband was Lockie Morrow. They were married on September 25, 1953 and had no children.
Descendants of Alice Minerva Wills
1 [1] Alice Minerva
Wills Born: August 24, 1894 in
Ellison, Summers Co., W.
Va. Died: February 24, 2000 in
Beaver, West Virginia.
. +John J. Garrett
Married: Bef. 1913 Father:
Mother:
2 Rosella
Emaline Garrett Born: June 06,
1913
... +Long Thornbury
Born: September 1909 Married:
September 07, 1931
Father: Mother:
*2nd Husband of [1] Alice Minerva
Wills:
. +Joe Keaton
Married: May 1925 Father: Mr. Jud
or Judge Keaton
Mother:
2 Robert Joe
Keaton Born: July 18, 1923
*3rd Husband of [1] Alice Minerva
Wills:
. +Lockie Morrow
Married: September 25, 1953
Father: Mother:
Below is a newspaper article about Mrs. Morrow that contains more information on her life:
Source - Register-Herald newspaper ,Tuesday, August 24,1993 (extracted as written, with errors, in the original article)
By Tony O'Leary
Register-Herald Reporter
CWV's oldest.
At a young 99, she feels good and plans to keep on goingExtensive research was not needed to verify that Alice M. Morrow is the oldest living alumna of the College of West Virginia. Known as Beckley College when she got her associate degree in Business Administration on June 3, 1948, at the age of 54, Morrow celebrates birth-day number 99 today. Is it a safe bet she is indeed the oldest?
"Oh, it's a safe bet," assured CWV President Charles Polk who, along with Alumni Director Lisa Steele, presented Morrow with a plaque Monday afternoon commemorating the distinction.
The award coincides with up-coming alumni and reunion-related activities at CWV. It was Morrow's son, Robert Keaton, also a CWV alumnus, who in-formed the college of his mom's stature. "I think the frame is aging faster than the diploma," he noted while holding her well cared glass-framed degree.
And if Morrow isn't the elder of CWV grads, then one would stays so alert is by keeping her mind stimulated.
"That's why God gave you brains - to use them," Morrow stated in a matter-of-fact tone. And another tidbit toward longevity. "I don't smoke, don't drink, and go to bed early," she added. While growing up in Raleigh County, Morrow wanted to attend college but couldn't be-cause of her family's financial situation.
Years later, after World War II started, Morrow worked in a defense factory and the Woman's Army Corps - serving in the medical department. Through her service, Morrow earned grant money for college via Uncle Sam. Recognizing that her classmates for her college courses were much younger, Morrow preferred it that way.
"That made me feel better. The one thing that has helped me to live is being with young people. I've always liked that," summarized Morrow as her four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren would surely agree. "It seemed when I got around older people, they were always complaining and it was still maintains a vegetable and flower garden canning her harvest of tomatoes, corn and cucumbers, bakes pies and cleans house to name a few.
For a young girl who grew up in Blue Jay and could never grasp the concept of man flying or being frightened at the first sight of an automobile ("I thought it was a giant bug"), Morrow is moving along just fine.
Citing a never-ending thought process, Morrow admitted to going to bed each night thinking about what she wants to do the following day ... and then some. "The way I plan," she figures, "I'd be here for 200 years." About that master's degree……
The following was provided by Jackie Dedman in March 2000:
Alice M. Morrow
Alice M. Keaton Morrow, 105, of Beaver, died at 150 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24,
2000, at Raleigh Rehabilitation Center, Daniels, following a long illness.Born Aug. 24, 1894, at Ellison Ridge, she was the daughter of the late Joseph
Green and Lucinda Lilly Wills.Mrs. Morrow was blessed to have lived during three centuries. She served as a
nurse in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. At the time of her retirement, she was a head nurse on one of the floors at Pinecrest Hospital in Beckley and was the oldest living graduate at Beckley College, now the College of West Virginia.She was preceded in death by her husband, Lockie E. Morrow; and a daughter, Rosella Garrett.
Survivors include a son, Robert J. Keaton and his wife, Veronica, of Beckley; four granddaughters, Patricia Ann Shea and her husband, Dan, of Boulder, Colo., Dr. Barbara Carol Keaton of Bridgeville, Pa., Dr. Nancy L. Keaton
Weaver and her husband, Michael, of Greenville, N.C., and Katie Keaton Brasted and her husband, William, of New Orleans; and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with Pastor Edward Garten officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour before services Monday at the funeral home.
Family members and friends will serve as pallbearers.
The family may be contacted at 607 Russell St., Beckley, or by telephone at 253-8147.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.