Morris Darryl Forrister

On June 22, 2021, Morris D. (MD) Forrister of Westcliffe, Colorado, passed away at home from complications of pneumonia at the young age of 80.

Morris was born on August 25, 1940, in Murphy, North Carolina. He was raised in Alabama and graduated from Childersburg High School, class of 1959.  He attended Western North Carolina University and later served in the Alabama Air National Guard for several years as a crew chief. After his successful 35-year career as a draftsman and aerial photographer with SONAT, Inc. in Birmingham, Morris’ love for nature and the outdoors drew him away from the southeast for good. His only retirement requirement was a small Colorado town, one without a Walmart.  He and Caroline fell in love with Westcliffe while traveling on one of their many western vacations. 

Last month, Morris and Caroline celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

An avid photographer, outdoorsman and handyman extraordinaire, Morris taught his children to love and support nature and protect the gifts it provides, and to love and support family and protect them as gifts from above. He also insisted that they learn some trade skills in case high-tech (computer) jobs were a fad.  Morris believed life’s problems all have solutions so focus on solutions; and that life is best lived with a sense of humor, an inherent Forrister family trait.

A Colorado resident for the past 19 years, Morris found his heart’s home in the Colorado Sangre de Cristo mountains.

In addition to his furniture-building hobby, Morris enjoyed building rustic wood picture frames to display his Colorado landscape photos from his travels and sold them at the Hillside Colorado post office. Always active and ready to help anyone in need, Morris will be deeply missed by his loyal friends and family, as well as the local wild turkeys that he hand-fed daily. 

Morris is survived by his wife, Caroline Nichols Riley; and their children, Stephanie (Jim) Hardee, Darryl Forrister Jr., and Karin Cutcliff; their grandchildren, Lauren and Christian Cutcliff, David and Zach Hardee; and Morris’ younger brother and sister, Gene Forrister and Ann Wilson. 

A Celebration of Life for Morris will be held at Parkes' Place Lake House on Logan Martin Lake, 195 Fulmer Drive, Talladega, AL 35160 on Saturday, October 23, 2021. Everyone is welcome to stop by anytime between 2-6 pm to share your favorite memories and stories of Morris.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Morris to the Museum of Western Colorado (museumofwesternco.com) or your favorite charity, or a memorial tree planted in an area of need (www.holtfamilyfuneralhomes.com).

Services entrusted to Holt Family Funeral Homes.

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