My Friend Janetta Morris

A longtime friend has died and I didn’t get to say goodbye.

Janetta Morris strolled into the La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce office on a fall day in November 1994 to introduce herself as the new owner of the RV and mobile home park, Colorado Landing, nestled along the banks of the Colorado River at the southern end of Main Street.

As life happens, it was the same day I started my job as president of the chamber. She recognized my raucous laughter coming from the back of the office and in that instant we renewed a friendship born nine years prior, when we met as classmates of Leadership Texas 1985.

Janetta became an active member of the chamber, promoting her RV park as a tourist stop for ‘winter Texans’ escaping the cold northern snows and heading to the balmy warmth of our southern state.

Through the ensuing years, we shared the joys and victories of living in La Grange, and the sadness and grief of deaths, divorces, losses, and career changes.

Janetta became involved in various pillars of the city, serving as a city council member, an active choir and committee member of the Methodist Church, and a member of the La Grange Economic Development Board of Directors.

Many of her contributions were unknown as she worked behind the scenes adding to the community’s vibrance, ever sensitive to improving the cultural and economic aspects of the city.

She was instrumental in developing interest, materials and energy to secure the decision to making Fayette County the home of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center.

And she focused on promoting and highlighting the Texas Quilt Museum’s establishment and opening in downtown La Grange.

Janetta was active in her support of past La Grange Mayor Janet Moerbe during her years of service, and was involved with campaigning for current mayor Jan Dockery.

Janetta Morris was an unseen treasure to the city offering her boundless energy, her time, her keen insight, and her discerning judgement to the betterment of La Grange.

She was co-founder of the weekly shopper “That Little Paper,” and never lost her interest and involvement in promoting La Grange as a vital city.

Her circle of friends was vast and included folks from every part of the community as she loaned money to those in need, donated time to making prayer quilts for hospital patients, and served on various boards, committees, and task forces.

We travelled together throughout the United States, and to Italy and then our last trip together to Switzerland, sightseeing, talking, laughing, questioning, planning, fussing, just as friends do.

As a longtime friend, I often referred to her as a prickly pear: pricking me into action, irritating me with her sharp spikes, and then appreciating her accomplishments as they bloomed into reality.

She missed a wish she hoped for: to have a party the night before she died to hear all the words her friends had to say about her: good, bad, and funny while she was alive. But, if you have words for her, she may appreciate your tales silently sent her way.

My long-time friend has moved on to offer her many personal gifts to projects we may never see.

Rest in Peace, Janetta, and thank you for the memories.

That Little Voice