Morris O. Jarvis

MORRIS O. JARVIS Tupelo - Morris Oliver Jarvis, 72, passed away June 3, at the Sanctuary Hospice House. He was born in New Albany, Mississippi to Mary Lou and Robert Lafayette Jarvis on November 20, 1940. He graduated from Center High School in Union County in 1959. He was a member of the Harrisburg Baptist Church for 39 years where he served as a deacon and for a time as the chairman of the deacons. He served as the chairman of the finance committee at Harrisburg and also served on the personnel, mission, pastor's search, and many other committees over the years. He graduated from Draughon's Business College, the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science, and the National Institute of Funeral Services. In 1965, he was named the top student by the faculty of the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science where he also received the Frigid Fluid Meritorious Award. The award was given in recognition of high scholastic achievement, leadership, excellence in the art of scientific embalming and contributions to help raise the standard of the funeral profession. He worked for the United Funeral Services in New Albany for seven years. Then he became a manager trainee of Hancock Fabrics. In 1968, he and his family moved to Forth Worth, Texas, to open the first Hancock Fabric store in Hurst, Texas. He opened four more stores in the Fort Worth area and later became the district manager over Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, and Waco. This area became the largest district in the Hancock operation with 18 stores. He was named in the Marquis Who's Who in the West and Southwest. In 1974, he and his family moved back to the home office in Tupelo where he held the position of Vice-president of Retail Operation with the responsibilities for the firm's 158 stores in 22 states. In 1980, he was named President of Hancock Textiles Co. Inc. and later when he helped take the company public on the New York Stock Exchange he became the CEO and chairman of the board. At that time, Hancock Fabrics was only the second Mississippi based company on the New York Stock Exchange. Under his leadership, Hancock Fabrics grew to almost 500 stores in 35 states. In 1990 he was named in the Business Week Corporate Elite issue for being the CEO of one of America's 1,000 largest public corporations ranked by market value. As CEO of Hancock Fabrics, he lobbied before Congress on behalf of the sewing industry, built lasting friendships with other national business leaders, and extensively traveled the world searching for the best fabric for the best value for the company. Morris was also known for his love to see Tupelo and Northeast Mississippi grow and develop for all its citizens. He worked tirelessly for many years on many community boards including the Community Development Foundation, the North Mississippi Medical Center, the American Home Sewing and Craft Association, the former Peoples Bank and Trust Company, the Community Relations Association, Allied Funeral Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Mississippi Economic Council, and the MRCA Information Services. He also developed properties with Donnie Richey in Tupelo and its surrounding areas. Morris loved serving the Lord and beyond his service to his church he was formerly chairman of the board of Blue Mountain College, and served on the board of Global Outreach where he traveled the world working with missionaries in many countries. He retired from Hancock Fabrics in 1997 but he never lost his love for the people he met and worked with during his years with the company. He continued traveling the world to help people and missionaries through Global Outreach as long as his health allowed him to do so. He was devoted to God and his family. He is survived by his wife, Sue Randolph Jarvis, daughters Leigh Anne Orozco (Henry) and Leslie Holliday (Ed) and six grandchildren, Marina and Jacob Orozco, Peyton, Edison, Graham, and Perrin Holliday. He is preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Bob. A celebration of his life will be 4 p.m. Friday, June 7, 2013, at the Harrisburg Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park. Family and friends will meet to honor and remember his life from 5 - 8 p.m., Thursday at the Harrisburg Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to The Sanctuary Hospice House, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803, Harrisburg Baptist Church, 4675 Cliff Gookin Blvd., Tupelo, MS 38801or Global Outreach, 74 Kings Highway, Pontotoc, MS 38863.