Semi-retired Yuma evangelist expresses love for Lord

Not totally retired as an evangelist for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Taylor Morris continues to express his love for the Lord, and his wife Dorothy "Doty," by writing poetry and music.

His pen name is "Pocahontas," because, he proudly says, "I'm related to the famous Algonquian Indian chief's daughter - who lived from 1596 to 1617.

She was married to John Rolfe, an Englishman with Irish, Welch and Scotch heritage. My father was Cherokee. One of my longest poems is 'The Trail of Tears,' a historical story of the Cherokee people who were forced from homes in the Carolinas, North Alabama and Georgia in 1838 to 1840 to lands in Oklahoma. Thousands died along the way," Morris explained.

He was born July 21, 1920, in Vian, Okla.

"I've also published a book, 'God's Matchless, Marvelous, Amazing Grace,' plus at least 60 songs that are on four CDs I've produced. All proceeds from these creations are going to the Voice for Jesus, Native American Ministries."

Morris said he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939, just after high school, and was sent to Alaska. "I served two years, eight months and 24 days, then was given a medical discharge at Vancouver, Wash., because of being diagnosed with tuberculosis.

"The military gave me $250, and (I) went on my way. The TB has been in remission for many, many years," Morris said.

In an Odd Fellows Lodge Dance hall in Portland, Ore., he met Dorothy Hogan. "We were both working for a plywood company, and I was framing windows," his wife said.

The couple joined friends who were going to Oklahoma. "We rode with them in a 1928 Buick, and, when we arrived in Talequah, Okla., the Cherokee headquarters, we wanted to be married. The justice of the peace was a warden in the prison. He asked if we had witnesses, and the answer was 'no', so he called guards to stand in."

Doty added, "It was high noon and the sirens blasted the hour. We really didn't hear what the warden was saying.

"That ceremony on Nov. 20, 1942, must have been legitimate because that was 66 years ago," she smiled.

Morris wrote a special song for their 50th wedding anniversary, celebrated with family in Wyoming. It's titled "Golden Wedding Love Song - by Pocahontas."

In 1954 the couple joined the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and served in many areas, including six years in Hawaii on the Big Island, Oahu and Molokai, and are members of the church in Yuma.

During the years, Morris worked with the police department in Los Angeles, "two years on patrol and five as a detective."

After the police career, he went into music. "One of my first songs was 'Leavin' L.A., headed for Tulsa' about what I had seen in that California city. I had a small band, and our first gig was for the policemen's ball."

He has played bass guitar and the fiddle, now the omnichord. "For a time I wrote honky-tonk music then changed to love songs and Christian gospel music."

Doty has been with "Pokie" throughout their travels, including the times traveling in motorhomes. "I've done crafts and caring for our three sons and four daughters. Five are teachers, four with masters of arts in education."

The Morrises spend summers in Grants Pass, Ore., and Boise, Idaho, and winters in Yuma.

"The church has helped with producing my CDs, as a fundraiser for the Native American Ministries. And, I plan to join a friend to take my music to different places in Yuma. I still sing the songs that carry Christian messages," Morris said.

A contact number is 1-208-891-4665.

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.

GOLDEN WEDDING LOVE SONG

How many years ago, did we chance to meet and fall in love?
How many times have we, said, a love like ours came from above?
You lit a fire down in my soul, and took my fears away.
That flame you lit within my heart, still burns for you today.
(Chorus)
How many joys you bring
No tongue could ever say.
How we have in so little time,
Loved fifty years away?

How many lover's quarrels, made us so upset and roughed our fur?
Then from a touch we learned, we weren't half as mad as we thought we were.
I'd be so mad, I'd set my mind to really make you pay.
Then with just your winsome smile, you'd take my mad away.
(Chorus)
How many joys you bring
No tongue could ever say.
How we have in so little time,
Loved fifty years away?

How many thrills ago did, you touch me with your fingertips?
And how many times have I held your face to kiss your lips?
Though fifty years have come and gone, I truthfully can say,
With all the love I loved you then, I love you still today.
| Pocahontas