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John Daniel Morey
07/01/1925 — 12/24/2008
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Dayton, Ohio
John Daniel Morey
John was born in Dayton, Ohio on July 1, 1925 and went to be with the Lord on December 24, 2008 at Kadlec Hospital with his family surrounding him. His parents moved to Lewiston, ID when he was a young boy, and it was there that he grew up and received his education. He joined the Navy during World War II, served in the South Pacific and was honorably discharged in 1946. His parents had by then moved to Richland, where he joined them and began working on construction for a short time before joining the Hanford Patrol. When Richland incorporated in 1958, he transferred to the Richland Police Department where he remained until he retired after 26 1/2 years of service. In 1973, he was named "Policeman of the Year" by the Richland Exchange Club. "Big John", as he was called by many, was proud of being a Richland cop. In later years, he was often approached by people who are now adults, thanking him for going above and beyond to help them when they were kids.
After he retired from the RPD, he started his own business, Morey's Investigations, whereby he performed various accident investigative services for many attorneys in the area, such as photography, interviewing witnesses, taking measurements of accident scenes, etc., and eventually worked for the former law firm of Crithchlow, Williams, Ryals & Schuster as their in-house investigator.
He was the Richland Police Department's first Santa Claus, playing the role of Santa for many years for the children of friends and co-workers, as well as being Santa in the Toy Department of the old Uptown Thrifty Drug in Richland.
John was married to his first wife, Lovejoy Osterman, in Lewiston in 1951. Tragically, their firstborn died shortly after birth; but joy came into the Morey home and hearts the following years with the births of 6 children. Then in 1968, tragedy came again when his wife died in a one-car accident. But, once again joy returned when in 1969 he married his present wife, Marion Krepsky-Dix. John and Marion had a great life together, raising their blended family, camping and traveling with good friends in their RVs. John loved golf! He and Marion went on many golf trips and played many courses with their golfing "buddies."
He was preceded in death by his parents, Laura and Austin Morey, wife Lovejoy, infant daughter, Bernice. Surviving are his present wife, Marion; son William Lori, Deer Park; daughters Lyllyan Harmston Dale, Wenatchee; Peggy Morey, Lakewood; Shawn Dodd Ed; Shannon Lewis Bob; Kelly Morey; Step-daughter Susan Richardson Ray; all of the Tri-Cities. Also surviving him are his grandchildren Tracy Crockett Dean; Crissy Welch Ryan; Sarah Richardson; Chuck Morey; Jamie Haren; Joshua, Jacob, Jonah Lewis; Cassandra Berndt; Kristal Dodd, all of the Tri-Cities; and Austin Schiefelbein of Lacey and Melissa Green Ryan of Bothell. He had six great-¬grandchildren, Hannah, Emily, Leah, Ellie, Mary & Aiden.
There will be a memorial service honoring John's life at Central United Protestant Church, 1124 Stevens Dr, Richland, on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CUP church, or to the charity of your choice.
We will sure miss John’s laughter & e-mails. One of the quieter guys on the P.D. but always ready for a good laugh.We will miss him, for sure. A good friend over the years.Our sympathies to Marion & Family.
Our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with you Marion, Bill and Lori at this time. Big John was very well loved.
I will miss John coming into Prescription Pharmacy and visiting. He gave my 2 little at the time boys a big bucket of golf balls so they could practice golfing. The balls have been put to good use for years. We still have most of them. I think of John whenever I pass a golf course. Hope he’s golfing in heaven and getting many hole in ones. I will miss him.
John was/is a big memory in my life. My father Ray Switzer worked Police with “Big John” and they were great friends. He passed away in ’94 John came to our house every Christmas Eve as Santa. I have pictures, and think of them yearly I’m 56 now and was probably 3 when he started coming to our house. I never figured out why we couldn’t watch “outside” for Santa, but in later years found out it was because he drove “Big John’s” truck. My dad even borrowed his Santa suit to play Santa at my grade school. He was and will always be remembered as a kind and great guy!
Heaven really made out with having John as a new member. The gates had to be wide open, to allow this great guy in. Not only because of his physical size, but his enormous heart. All his friends should stand and salute because a good man passed our way.
Marion–our condolences to you and your family. John was a good man. I will miss seeing him at the Spudnut Shop. Our old District Court group is getting on. Our prayers are with you. Daryl and Pat Jonson
My condolences to your family. It was a pleasure working with him all those years on the RPD. Also, I will always remember the times we worked together at the old Uptown thrifty Drug store.
To Cousin Marion & family, condolences for John’s passing. May this bridge the distance between us with heartfelt sadness but also with thoughts of personal courage to reach beyond to loving memories. Love, Diane & Willard
Dear Marion & family , many good memories are left with us as we remember John from the time the city incorporated we worked together with many good memories.The several Christmas eves when he visited as santa for our children and grandchildren bringing them their slippers and having appl pie and cheddar cheese with a glass of milk before he left for the North pole as the kids thought. they still talk about it to this day.A great tribute to him . Our love and prayers to each of you . Dick & Jane
To the entire Morey Family,
My folks called and shared the sad news. My condolences to the entire FAMILY!
I will keep the family in my prayers. I always remember him in my teenage years memeories. Memories of how he always held his cool and made us see the right way no matter how long it took. If there was ever an issue we would stop my the cop shop and he would point us in the right direction. I will never forget how he helped mold us into the young adults we are today. GOD BLESS
Marian: John and you were always my friends when I lived in Richland. We left there in 1973 and
moved to Montana. John was always
special to me as he helped us quite
abit in the reserves.
My prayers go out to you and know it has left a hole in your heart but it will be filled with loving
memories.
To the entire Morey Family,
I, too, had the honor of working with John. When I hired on with RPD, in October 1973, for the first few days, I reported to John who showed me around. John was the “in-house” bomb squad man. During those first days with him, he showed me some bomb scene crime photos and I just about resigned. John was a great mentor! You could always tell John was in the station because you would hear his booming, deep voice followed by his chuckling then his signature laughter! My condolences to the entire FAMILY!
I saw Mr. Morey’s opituary in the Lewiston Tribune. My father, Tom McGuire passed away Jan. ’03 at age 90, was on the Richland Police Department with John. I ‘m sure he would want me to offer condolances to the family and say “May he rest in peace.” Maybe they are talking about old times . . . – Mary McGuire Druffel
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John Daniel Morey