William Robert Morat, Sr.'s Obituary
William R. Morat, Sr. 87, Army veteran of Memphis, passed away on January 12, 2016. “Bill” as he was called, was born on December 28, 1928 to the late William J. Morat, and Rose Morat Navin. He was raised by his Dad and step mother, the late Cornelia Morat Gaines. Bill attended Messick High School where he played football and was named by the Commercial Appeal as a part of the All-Memphis Football Team. He was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” of which he succeeded in meeting and marrying his classmate, Jeanette Baker Morat who was the love of his life for 64 years. He was an alumni of Memphis State University, and a proud supporter of the Tiger Highland 100 booster club. Bill and Jan were members of Kingsway Christian Church where he was chairman of the board of deacons, an elder, a leader in the Cub and Boy Scouts, and for 12 years he and Jan were the high school youth directors. Bill took an active role in local politics and civic work. He was Chairman for the March of Dimes, a zone chairman for the Heart Association, and he was the first vice president for the Colonial Acres Civic Club. He ran for several local political offices, always with the goal to improve his community. He was a Jaycee becoming their Outstanding Member in 1956 and their President in 1958, Tennessee State Director in 1960 and State Chairman in 1961. In 1965, “Energetic Bill” was named Memphis “Young Man of the Year” at the age of 33. Bill was in the insurance industry for 63 years, as an agent and owner of Morat Insurance Agency on Park Ave., and was a member and officer of the Professional Insurance Agents of Memphis and Tennessee. He was a past board member of the National Napoleonic Society, where he studied the life of Napoleon and that era, and became interested as a hobby. He is survived in loving memory by his children, daughter Jan Morat Henderson; sons, Bill Morat, Jr, (Ann), Michael T. Morat (Janet); grandchildren, Brad Henderson, Neely Henderson, Laura Morat Hundley, (Chris), Christopher Morat; Mary Layne Morat Hopkins (Matt), Matthew Morat (Melissa) and Jason Morat; and great grandchildren, Evan Hundley and Alice Layne Hopkins , Madison Morat and Parker Morat. He is also survived by his sister, Jo Keaveney; brother in law, James Baker; and a host of extended family and friends. Visitation will be Saturday, at 10 am and services will be at 11 am, at Kingsway Christian Church at 7887 Poplar Ave., in Germantown. The family requests any donations to be given to Kingsway Christian Church, or the charity of the donor’s choice.Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery….”Celebrating Life…..Behind the Stone Wall”.
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