Mount Isa's oldest born resident has died.
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Arthur Morris died overnight Tuesday aged 90. He was the husband of Ann Morris, also aged 90.
Mr Morris was born on August 3, 1930 on the banks of the Leichhardt River when Mount Isa itself was just six years old.
His parents and their five children travelled by train in 1929 only months after the completion of the Duchess-Mount Isa railway extension of the Townsville rail line.
Following Arthur's birth, the family quickly grew to include another three babies taking the number of children born to Catherine Mary and Fredrick Harold Morris to nine.
Fred built the Morris house in stages by Fred by flattening out old cyanide drums for the walls and nailed them to the felled tree structures which was topped with an old tin and canvas roof.
At the outbreak of World War Two the family returned to the east coast and settled in Tully.
Arthur was a young man when he returned to the outback and following a stint as a ringer on Nonda Station, he tried his hand at tin mining at Clarke River, before he decided to return to Mount Isa (his parents had also returned to run a pie shop) with the sure knowledge that he would get full-time employment at Mount Isa Mines.
His first job in the mine was underground as a timber man, then in haulage on 13th level, before being promoted to construction shift boss.
During the Shut Out of 1964-1965, Arthur went back to Brisbane and secured work on the Wynnum Manly wharf only resigning when news arrived that the mine had reopened its gates and the miners were allowed back to work.
He boarded at the mine's B.S.D. Barracks where he was often the instigator of practical jokes followed by a straight face and laughing eyes denial of being involved in the prank.
He wedded Audrey in 1970, a marriage sadly was cut short with her untimely death in 1975.
Arthur later married a widow, Anne Vardy and together they have forged a wonderful team both being dedicated to the community of Mount Isa through their many and varied voluntary works.
When offered early retirement form the mine in 1987, Arthur saw it as an opportunity to further support Anne in her charity commitments, while continuing to take pride in his garden and their extended family.
A lovable larrikin, who could whip up a scrumptious scone at the drop of a hat, Arthur was the master scone maker at Meals on Wheels, an organisation with which both he and Anne dedicated a total of 75 years voluntary service.
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