I’m going to do another post – maybe – about the last few weeks. But once I realized John was declining, I started finding all my photos of him and writing down a few things that I wanted to remember. I wasn’t sure if was for a speech during a funeral or just a memory post… But it did turn into a memory post, so I’m posting it here.
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Today is a day to celebrate a man who could turn an idea into an empire and a stranger into a friend: my step-dad, John Morris.
John was an incredibly influential person in my life. He was a serial entrepreneur, leaving a trail of business ventures in his wake (from one of his boats, I’m sure!). He had many businesses before he came into my life but from my memory, it started with the 17-year success of J. Williams Enterprises (co-founded with my Mom, Jerra Garret) before selling it to the IRIS boys, to starting Advanced Access, the surprising turn to Radical West, which morphed into Spring Mountain Motorsports. He was always building. And we can’t forget Jetpack America which made John famous for “jetpack fail” on Fox News 11. (Just Google it, you’re welcome!)
John came into my life when I was just five, marrying my mom and becoming a constant presence for decades, even after their divorce thirty years later. He was a lifelong influence.
I have many random memories from my early years when John and my Mom ran JWI. John, often on the road traveling for sales in his RV, instilled in me early lessons of resilience. The JWI days had a lot of ups and downs. Even as kids, my sister, brother, and I were part of the action “hanging out” after school or on weekends either at the office – which entailed us playing with office supplies or running through the complex playing hide and seek – or more memorably jumping through the fountain which stood in front of the La Palma building. We also would be called in to help – earning allowance to stuff envelopes or put flyers on doorsteps. It was sort of an all hands on deck. When times were bad, they (and we!?) were working 24/7 to fix things. Yet, that’s how John worked. He faced something hard, threw out an idea, worked to make it happen, and turned things around.
When he sold JWI and had the brilliant idea to make “websites for real estate agents” in 1998, we all said great idea! John had the “Keys to Your Success” and the line at all the conventions under our billboard of “Websites while You Wait” was long. (My sister reminded me I once made 30 websites in a few hours after some of those big sales days! Microsoft FrontPage FTW!)
He was the master of pivots. When things weren’t looking good, he switched his perspective and moved in another direction. John made a lot of mistakes but he learned quickly and I was always in awe of that.
Life with John meant always being ready for the next big idea or challenge! There were times when we would get called into the board room, and well, let’s just say it kept everyone on their toes and taught us the importance of quick-thinking… lessons I still value today! ??
John had a remarkable ability to connect with people. He was genuinely interested in your story, made quick connections, and had an amazing ability for turning acquaintances into allies and friends, especially if you could help bring his visions to life. And speaking of visions, John was the king of grand gestures! From unforgettable birthday trips in my youth, he embraced life with an over-the-top enthusiasm. He would take my friends and I on an amazing boat trip to Catalina, drive the RV to Vegas and get us a helicopter tour of the Strip, fly my wedding dress all the way to Colorado in his helicopter, or go crazy with spoiling my kids with multiple extravagant toys or adventures.
John lived and breathed business. For the entire forty years he was a part of my life, right up to our last conversations, he vibrated with the energy of his latest business pursuit. I remember as a child, the dinner table was always filled with talk of entrepreneurial ventures – always exciting, intriguing, and challenging. And our collaboration at Advanced Access truly felt like capturing lightning in a bottle. Being able to contribute to his vision and watch it grow was an incredible privilege.
One thing you could always count on with John was his honesty. He was direct and never left you guessing, and while he had strong opinions, he was also open to new perspectives… a sign of a truly dynamic mind.
His entrepreneurial spirit, the lessons in resilience, and his larger-than-life personality shaped me in profound ways.
In early 2024, John learned he had stage 4 prostate cancer. He put all his energy into trying different ways to beat it, from both regular doctors and other kinds of healing. We all hoped for the best, but the last couple of months were much harder. He was able to enjoy his 78th birthday last Monday and some carrot cake, which was special. The last week of his life was spent in a peaceful spot by the ocean in San Clemente. Now, 25 years later, we can find some comfort in knowing he will be reunited with his beloved son, Danny, who we lost far too soon at the age of 20.
I’m so thankful for my sister, Katie Morris, who has given everything this past year to find new ways to help him, and then stayed by his side day and night this last week. It brought me comfort to see Zac Dowdell, his good friend and like a son to him these last few years, always there to help with whatever he needed. And David Petrie, his loyal business partner of 21 years, was a true rock, showing such love and support in the best ways. And, of course Jerra Morris my own personal rock, I can’t say enough about. Love you, Mama.
Over the last week, I spent time at the house during John’s decline. The constant stream of love from his friends was such a reminder of the impact he had. Friends stopping by, and calls pouring in, each one was so lovely to hear. My sister insisted that I listen to a message from Ari Strauss, founding partner of Monticello Motor Club and a good friend of John’s. Dave came over to hold the phone up near John so we could all listen to it again.
Ari’s words perfectly captured the essence of John, saying he taught him to live life to the fullest and emphasized, “John, you are a joy maker, you are an inspiration, you are a gracious host, you are all the best things that define a good person. You are responsible for making really special memories for so many people.”
John WAS a joy maker. And it was so lovely being able to hear all these amazing memories and see John’s legacy.
Johnny, I’m so grateful for all the memories and the love we shared. Thank you for everything.
May 12, 1947 – May 17, 2025
