Richard Wayne Morphis, Sr.

Richard Wayne Morphis was born March 25, 1929 in Spokane, Washington at the Deaconess Hospital to Joseph Lea Morphis and Bessie Mae Godfrey Morphis. He passed to his rest on June 25, 2013 in Spokane, Washington. He graduated from Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle, Washington in 1947 and from Walla Walla College in College Place, Washington in 1953 with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. He married Violet Olive Hutchinson on July 22, 1952 in Tonasket, Okanogan, Washington. They separated in 1973. In 1956 he was elected to serve in the Washington State House of Representatives from the Seventh District in Spokane. He served along with his good friend Ed Harris. They campaigned together and served together. He served in the legislature for five terms, leaving in January of 1967. He was the key person in the legislature to begin Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane. He, in 1947, along with his twin brother, his sister and his mother was a founder and helped to build the Spokane Sanitarium in Spokane. The name later became Spokane Convalescent Center, and is currently operated under the name, North Central Health Care. He was the Administrator of this nursing home for 35 years. Richard was a 50 year member with perfect attendance in the Spokane Central Lions Club. He was also a member of the El Katif Shrine. He was an active member of the Washington Nursing Home Association and was a long time member of their legislative committee. For many years he was also a member of the Spokane Country Club and of the Spokane Club in Downtown Spokane. He was also an active member of the Spokane County Republican Party. He enjoyed playing golf and tennis. In his younger days he very much enjoyed snow skiing on Mount Spokane. He also loved to play Gin Rummy and Bridge. He loved to go bowling in the winter time and was proud of his trophy that showed his best score of 268. For 50 years his home was on Riverview Drive in Spokane overlooking the beautiful Down River Golf Course and Riverside State Park. For several years he had a summer home on Priest Lake where he loved to fish. Richard Morphis was preceded in death by his parents, his sister VerDel Jean Moen, his twin brother Dr. James Godfrey Morphis, Sr., a long time Spokane Dentist, his nephew Dr. James G. Morphis, Jr. of Post Falls, Idaho, his niece Evelyn VerDel Parker of Spokane and his nephew Gary Michael Moran of Spokane. Graveside Funeral is being held on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at one o'clock in the afternoon at the beautiful Pines Cemetery in the Spokane Valley, where he is being buried beside his mother and sister. Five generations of his family are buried at Pines Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Mr. Kim Berg of the Riplinger Funeral Home, Spokane. Pastor Bob Smith officiating He is survived by his son, Richard Wayne Morphis, Jr. of Spokane. His Grandson Brian Luke Morphis of Spokane. Two nieces, Bernice Barrentine of Litchfield Park, Arizona and Jennifer Morphis of Nine Mile Falls, Washington. Five nephews, Dr. Robert A. Morphis of Spokane, Thomas G. Morphis of Napa, California, Thomas P. Moen, Jr. of Desert Hot Springs, California, Mark A. Moen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Terry L. Moran of Beaumont, California. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Barbara Morphis of Priest Lake, Idaho and Sun City Arizona.