William Joseph Morris of Clarendon, passed away on June 21, 2021, at the age of 79. He was born in Blackton, Arkansas on August 1, 1941 and the last child to the family of William Everett and Mabel Eunice Morris. He was simply known as Billy Joe, by all who knew and loved him, and received formal education in the nearby community of Holly Grove.

On May 20, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ann Kelley in Maddox Bay at the Lawrenceville Church where Billy Joe attended during his childhood. In their early years of marriage, they made their home on the farm of Mary Ann's father Angus Lee Kelly, Sr. Several years of farming with his father-in-law, where he learned the most valuable farming skills, led him to his love of flying the farm lands of numerous farmers.  He and Mary Ann moved to the city of Holly Grove where they made their home. In 1976 Billy Joe entered flight school at McCarty Flying Service in Helena, Arkansas, flying the Boeing Stearman PT-17. He operated a flying service with Carl Wayne "Square" Hill in Holly Grove for 10 plus years. He was president of the Holly Grove Municipal Airport Commission and partnered with Randy Everett to form E&M Flying service until his retirement in 1999. He flew the Northrup Grumman Ag Cat along with the AT 502 air tractor. In 2000 he took on his second career as Monroe County Sheriff. He served as Sheriff for 10 years. His love of law enforcement lived in him all of his life. His third career was working with the Monroe County Road Department. He had some of his best times with the guys at the shop.

He was an avid duck hunter, had a love of motorcycles and a love to talk to anyone. He had lots of Billy Joe-ism that his family refers to as "his language"

For 55 years Billy Joe was a member of the Holly Grove Missionary Baptist where he held the position as song director. Active in the community Billy Joe was a Master Mason and member of the Holly Grove Kerr Lodge and Brinkley Masonic Lodge 295. He loved God, his children, grand and great grandchildren, his family, friends and strangers alike. He was the man who helped everyone in anyway he could. His Life was full, adventurous, and filled with love.

Chris, Martha and Blyss are thankful for the outpouring of love shown to them. His presence will leave a void in their lives until they are reunited with him.

He was preceded in death by parents; William and Mable Turner Morris; wife, Mary Ann Morris; brother, David Richard "Buster" Morris; sisters, Katherine Lee Morris, Susie May Morris and Georgia Marie Morris-Cecil.

He is survived by: daughter, Martha Morris Meredith, of Clarendon, Arkansas; son, Joseph Christopher Morris and wife Ness, of Little Rock, Arkansas; 2 grandchildren, Lauren Blyss Meredith–Thompson (Aaron), Sophia Anne Morris; 3 great grandchildren, Michael Peyton Thompson, Ryker Morris Thompson, Mary Pyker Dabbs–Thompson, sisters, Mary Frances Spurlock-Coffman, Betty Owens, and Mildred Craig.

Memorials may be given to Macedonia Cemetery in Holly Grove.