Durango resident Howard Lowell Morris, Cdr., USN (Ret), died Monday, November 21, 2011. He was 84. Howard was born October 22, 1927, in Arvada, Colo., the son of Guy Randolph and Carolyn Drew Morris. His parents met in Durango, where his father was a sheep rancher and his mother a nurse. Howard graduated from Arvada High School in 1945, and attended Colorado School of Mines briefly before he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. He graduated in 1951 and served our country as a naval officer for 21 years, earning several medals and citations for his service. Howard met Shirley Davis in Chicago, Ill. and they were married in 1952. The couple lived in Long Beach, San Diego, Troy, N.Y., Newport Beach, R.I., and Philadelphia. Howard then served as a member of the United Nations Command Staff in Korea. After his tour in Korea, Howard was sent again to San Diego, and Long Beach. He ended his military career in Honolulu as Shore Commander for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. When he retired in 1971, he and Shirley moved to Evergreen, Colo., where Howard worked in real estate and as a machinery inspector/engineer for an insurance company. In 1977, Howard and Shirley moved to Durango, where they enjoyed an active mountain lifestyle, hiking and skiing. Howard liked woodworking and woodcarving, restoring his 1947 Dodge pickup, and playing bridge. His curious mind was always seeking answers about how things worked. He was keenly interested in mechanics and electronics. He loved to tinker. He was preceded in death by two sisters, two brothers, and by his daughter Leslie Morris Swaford. Howard is survived by his wife Shirley Morris of Durango; daughters Susan (Donn) Hicks and Linda Morris of Durango; sons David (Elvi Schreiner) Morris, Alan (Karen) Morris and Glenn Morris of Durango; grandchildren Nathan Morris, Jennifer Morris, Heather Adair, Amanda Morris, Amber Klein, Ashlee Swaford, Audrey Morris, and Rowan Morris; eleven great-grandchildren; and brothers Roger Morris of Owatonna, Minn.; and Donn Morris of Westminster, Colo. A memorial service will be held at the Fort Lewis College Chapel on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 2 p.m. A gathering for friends and family will be held after the service at Howard and Shirley’s home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Durango Discovery Museum, 1333 Camino del Rio, Durango, CO 81301. Online condolences may be offered at www.hoodmortuary.com.