JOHN F. MORRIS, age 83, of Washington CH, passed away at 11:43 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at the home of his daughter, Jana. He was born on April 14, 1939 in Delaware, Ohio to the late Delbert and Florence Schuster Morris. On May 31, 1964 he married the former Hannah Craft, who survives.

John was a 1957 graduate of Delaware Hayes High School and had worked for the F.B.I in Washington D.C. He then went on to enroll at The Ohio State University where he met Hannah and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Education in 1963. After moving to Washington C.H. in 1965 to become part of the coaching staff for the Washington Blue Lions, he became employed with the school district as an eight-grade math teacher at the Washington Middle School until his retirement in 1992. John also owned and operated the J&M Driving School and had served two terms on the Washington Court House City Council.

John was a member at the First Presbyterian Church in Washington C.H., he was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, 32nd Degree Masons, Valley of Columbus, Aladdin Shrine Temple and Washington Shrine Club. He was the first member in Washington C.H. to be elected to the Royal Order of Jesters. John also served as past president for the Washington Shrine Club where his contribution was instrumental in planning and starting their annual spaghetti dinner. Furthermore, he was a member of the Aladdin Temple Shrine Clown Unit where he served as an assistant director of the Clown Unit for several years. As a member of the Clown Unit, John enjoyed dressing up as a clown and wearing his red and white patched clown suit and went by the name of "Checkerboard Squire". He also enjoyed entertaining the children, marching in the parades, visiting the Shrine hospitals and traveling to many cities for the International Shrine Conventions. John later went on to be the director of the Aladdin Temple Shrine Circus until his retirement in 2015.

John was an avid follower of The Ohio State University Buckeyes, which was heightened after learning from the late great Woody Hayes. He also enjoyed watching the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Browns and the Washington Commanders. Some of John's other favorite activities with his grandkids included planting flowers, gardening, watching them play sports, building puzzles and eating ice cream. John and Hannah liked to spend their winters in Florida until his health declined.

In addition to his loving wife of fifty-eight years, survivors include his daughters; Julie (Jerry) Butcher and Jana (Mark) Miller; grandchildren; Logan and Landon Miller, and Christy and Remington Butcher. Brother, Donald (Janice) Morris of Ft. Myers; sister-in-law, Harriet (Rick) Evans. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. He leaves his canine companion Chloe as well.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Summers Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Brand and Dick Westinghouse officiating. Burial will follow at the Washington Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday evening from 5-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home with a Masonic service to begin at 7:00 p.m. and a Jesters service to begin immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John's name to: Shriners Hospital of Lexington, 110 Con Terrace, Lexington, KY 40508 or Ohio's Hospice of Fayette County, 222 N. Oakland Ave, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Summers Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.summersfuneralhome.com