Obituary: Morris Billy Cranford, Jr., passed peacefully from this world Dec. 27, 2018.
Morris (or "Bill" as his family called him) was born in Lubbock, Texas, Aug. 10, 1930 to Morris Billy Cranford, Sr., and Inez (McClellan) Cranford.
He graduated from Lubbock High School in 1947, where he participated in many extracurricular activities. Among them, he ran track, played trombone in the band and orchestra, and was vice president of the junior class 1945-1946.
Morris was a sheet metal worker all of his adult life, working for Wayne Martin Sheet Metal, Rountree Mechanical Contractors, and Anthony Mechanical Contractors. He retired in 1995.
He was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, and continued to pay dues to the union for 70 years. This month he qualified for a 70-year member pin, for which he was extremely proud. "How many people do you know who get a 70-year pin?" he'd say. His work was his sense of purpose, "an honest day's work for an honest day's pay!"
On June 28, 1949, Morris married Juanita Reynolds, with whom he made a wonderful life of car club activities, square dances, and raising their three children. They were faithful members of St. Luke's United Methodist Church. She preceded him in death Sept. 24, 1997.
Vintage and classic cars were Morris' only interest outside of work and family, at one time having up to 35 cars, including Lincolns, Studebakers, Fords (including Edsels), Chryslers, Packards, and Kaisers. He was active in the Nifty Fifties Car Club and in the national Edsel and Studebaker clubs. He enjoyed the company of other car enthusiasts.
In 2001, Morris convinced Dorothy (Harbaugh) Smith, whom he had known for decades, to marry him, and they wed on July 14. This created another extended family of bonus children and grandchildren. He and Dorothy continued to be active in the car club and in their Sunday school class at St. Luke's. Morris regularly met with groups of friends for coffee and breakfast; he and Dorothy enjoyed a consistent schedule of eating out with friends and family.
Morris was preceded in death by his parents and Juanita.
