Jean Ellen Marie Morris

JEAN ELLEN MARIE MORRIS, age 56, of Aurora, formerly of Montgomery and owner of J.E.M. Morris Construction, Inc, passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 24 2013 after a short but fierce battle with cancer that took her body, but never her soul. She was born on May 9, 1957 in Houma, LA, the daughter of Gerold and Leola (Dupre) Falgout.Jean grew up in Houma and attended local schools. She graduated with the class of 1974 from Terrebonne High School.Jean met Chuck Morris while he worked as an engineer in Dulac. Fate brought them together but the love that came soon after ensured they never would be apart. They were united in marriage on May 3, 1974. They began their new life together in Mississippi for a time, before making their home in the Aurora area in 1976. A year later she and Chuck started J.E.M. Construction, later named J.E.M. Morris Construction. They built restaurants in the beginning but specialized in park district construction creating places where children could play and participate in team sports. While growing J.E.M. Morris, Jean studied for and obtained her Real Estate and Broker’s license in the early 1990’s. She also owned and operated Katie’s Corner in Big Rock where she shared her love of ceramics and helped others create "artistic masterpieces". Jean had a general contractor, excavation and underground contractor’s license in the state of Florida whose test she passed on the first try, a feat only accomplished by as few as twenty percent of applicants. She replicated those licenses in West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois. Jean was a member of the Women’s Business Association and the Operating Engineers Union Local #150. She also attended Ginger Creek Community Church in Aurora. Jean was a strong Christian woman with a deep faith that was the bedrock of her life and her family. She became a Christian at the sunrise service Easter morning in 1974 and never looked back, living her faith and sharing her love with everyone. Jean and Chuck loved to travel visiting London, Ireland, Egypt, Jordan, Greece, Rome and went to Israel twice. The family also traveled within the United States making memories all along the east coast and various tourist destinations across the country. They also set out to sea on many cruises as well. During the winters, the warm sunshine of Florida called them to their home in Ft. Myers Beach, FL. Above all, Jean’s heart beat for her family. One of her lifelong dreams was to see all three of her children graduate from college, a dream that was realized when her son walked across the stage and received his diploma in 2006. She is survived by her husband, Chuck Morris of Aurora;Three children:Kim (Neil) Nakahodo and their children, Niko and Ryker, of Kansas City, MO, Katie (Tom) Carvell and their children Jenny and Ryan, of Clarksville, TN and Don (Lacie) Morris of Ft. Worth, TX;One brother, Gary (Debra) Falgout of Gray, LA;Four sisters:Brenda (Earl) Scott of Houma, LA, Crystal (Clark) Duplantis of Dulac, LA, Stephanie (Larry) Authement of Dulac, LA and Sherri Falgout of Chauvin, LA;Seven nephews;Five nieces and a family of friends. She is preceded by her parents, Leola and Gerold Falgout. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Friday, July 26, 2013, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A funeral to celebrate her life and faith will begin at 10:30 a.m., also at the funeral home, Saturday, July 27, 2013. Interment will follow at Blackberry Township Cemetery, Elburn, IL. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Jean’s name to benefit her favorite charities including Feed My Starving Children. Checks may be made to the "Jean Morris Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com where you can find her full life story.