Mary Teresa Morris, 85, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 19, 2020, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester.  She was born on August 24, 1935, in Hopkinton, the daughter of Albert and Marcella (Leyendecker) Derga.

Having grown up on a farm herself, it was not surprising she married a farmer.  Mary and Robert Morris, Sr. were wed at St. Paul Catholic Church in Worthington,  November 16, 1957.  Eight children were born to this union.  The couple began their journey on a small farm in the Hiawatha area, only to purchase the “home place” farm, three miles north of Masonville in 1969.  She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and prayed the rosary faithfully. Mary was the heartbeat of the family, she was a committed, caring, and an involved farm wife.  She always had a huge garden full of vegetables that led to a very full freezer!   Mary was a great cook, didn’t matter if she was cooking for ten or twenty, those meals were memorable, chicken or fish with creamed peas was a favorite.  And there was a never ending dessert of some sort, always on the kitchen counter.  Mary found embroidery was a nice way to end her day.  She was a diehard Cub fan and cheered for the Miami Dolphins.  We were blessed with a special person who took time for all, she enjoyed the role of being a Mom and truly loved the title of Grandma. We are so blessed for all the treasured memories that will last all of us a lifetime.

Survivors include her eight children, Kathy (Larry)Brunsman of Manchester, Bob (Susan) Morris Jr. of Manchester, Connie (Chris) Algeo of Tacoma, Washington, Karen (Scott) Bohr of Marion, Mike (Beth) Morris of Marion, Judy (Matt Anderson) Morris of Tacoma, Washington, Leroy Morris of Cedar Rapids, and Janet (Rob) Dudley of Winthrop; 16 grandchildren; 17 great- grandchildren; four sisters, Alvera Weber of Manchester, Bernice Lansing of Dyersville, Grace Neuzil of Dyersville, and Jane Hahn of Dyersville,  one brother, John (Kathy)Derga of Worthington, two brothers-in-law, Larry (Nancy) Morris and William Morris all of Cedar Rapids; three sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Overman and Lois Morris all of Cedar Rapids and Carol Derga of Racine, Wisconsin.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bob in 2019; her parents, Albert and Marcella Derga; her parents-in-law, William and Harriet Morris; her brother, Albert Leo Derga; and her brothers-in law, Richard Morris, Ralph Weber, Art Lansing, Dick Neuzil, and Herb Hahn.

Because of COVID-19, masks are required at the funeral home and at the church.