Morris King Byrum Jr., 84

Morris King Byrum Jr., 84, of Lee's Summit, formerly of Sedalia, passed away Monday, May 4, 2015, at The Benton House in Lee's Summit.

He was born October 11, 1930, in Hannibal, son of Morris King Sr. and Marie Louise Ruoff Byrum. His mother was the first woman who ever voted in the United States.

On March 16, 1956, in North Kansas City, he married Dixie L. Moore, who survives of the home.

Morris played in the minor league for the St. Louis Cardinals and hit a grand slam homer. Then he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve during the Korean Conflict.

He earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education at University of Missouri-Columbia, and his Specialist in Administration at University of Central Missouri. Mr. Byrum was an assistant principal and later principal at Smith-Cotton High School, retiring after thirty years in education.

He was a member of Sedalia Lodge 236, Missouri Retired Teachers Association, Noonday Optimist Club, Moose Lodge 1494 and American Legion.
He was an artist and loved to make earrings. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and playing duplicate bridge.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Jeannie Salmon (Raul), of Liberty, and Jackie Harvey (Bob), of Lee's Summit; and seven grandchildren, Tyler, Ryan, Tara, Steven, Laura, Austin and Nate.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Wanda Sherwood, and her husband, Joe.

Memorial services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at Heckart Funeral Home, with the Rev. Kim Knowle-Zeller officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Army and VFW Post 2591.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at Heckart Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Sedalia School District Foundation.