Stephanie Lennon Morris

Stephanie Lennon Morris passed away on February 8, 2024, in her home in Fort Collins, Colorado. Stephanie was born on April 3, 1990, into music, with her middle name honoring the Beatles.

Stephanie loved to dance. As a child, she starred in regular dance performances with her siblings after Sunday night family dinners. She would line up the dining room chairs and direct family members to "take a seat" before the show started. Stephanie took dance lessons and was a member of the dance team in high school. Long before the Barbie movie, Stephanie was a vision on stage in a bright pink jumpsuit with a blonde wig. She joined theater clubs, where she loved performing in stage productions and musicals, all while finding time to play the violin in the orchestra for three years.

Stephanie loved to wait at bookstores for midnight releases dressed as her favorite literary characters. She loved to read and traveled wonderous, great distances reading for hours in her bedroom. She particularly enjoyed Harry Potter and Chuck Palahniuk books. Stephanie loved to play cards, board games, trivia nights, and excelled at puzzles. She liked being active, and for years played soccer in the fall, swim team in the summer with cheerleading and gymnastics in between.

Stephanie attended The University of Texas at Austin earning a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Spanish, and was recognized for leadership and academic achievements. During college and after graduation, Stephanie worked for many volunteer and nonprofit organizations. She enjoyed politics and worked effortlessly to improve the lives of others. She was a relentless advocate for mental health services, a strong ally, fought for equal rights, and embraced all viewpoints. She had such a strong work ethic that she thought it was normal to work and attend college at the same time.

Stephanie loved Austin and all things Texas, but after being accepted into six veterinary medical schools, she chose Colorado State University, and moved to Fort Collins to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. During her first year, she was awarded the Thomas L. Spurgeon Book Award. This award recognized her knowledge and enthusiasm in learning anatomy as well as her actions in fostering teamwork and community by helping classmates.

Of course, Stephanie loved animals, especially dogs. As a child, she taught the family dog, Missy, to climb the playscape steps and then they would go down the slide together. She raised gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, and the frogs who lived under the sidewalk in the front yard. As soon as she could, she started fostering hospice dachshunds. She shared her adult years with Bella, George, Martha, and then finally, Vienna. The bond between Stephanie and Vienna was unbreakable.

Stephanie felt her feelings very deeply. She had an incredible sense of intuition and was very perceptive. She could read our minds, but was confounded by her own thoughts. Stephanie was very intelligent, well-educated, and had a tenacious personality. When faced with setbacks, she saw no other option than to persevere. She was hopeful, never gave up on life, and embraced each day with gratitude.

Stephanie was beautiful and her personality and smile could light up a room. She was a trusting, gentle spirit, and generous to a fault. Stephanie did not value material objects, instead, preferred taking long road trips, bungee jumping, winning at bingo, mysteries and plot twists, and hot sauce challenges. Stephanie made it known that she did not like rain, yard work, chime clocks, or critics of Game of Thrones.

Stephanie loved her family and we know this because she told us this every time we spoke with her. She was a gift and taught us unconditional love, forgiveness, and the value of honest, genuine conversations. Our sweet "Stepher" loved talking, long hugs, and kisses on her forehead. She always told us she wanted to be known as the "cool aunt" to Mary and Owen. A family friend said, "Stephanie was my favorite Morris." We understand.

Stephanie long suffered from depression and anxiety. During the past couple of years, her disease brought her to places of incredible inconsolable darkness. Some only saw Stephanie through the lens of her pain and defined her by her mistakes. Others caught glimpses of her struggles and mightily tried to help her. But so many people were fortunate to have completely known and understood Stephanie and loved her even more when she needed it the most.

Stephanie is survived by her parents, Stephen F. Morris and Diane W. Morris, of Omaha, Nebraska; siblings Robin (Thomas) Breazier of Gretna, Nebraska, and their two children, Mary Jean and Owen Austin; William F. Morris and his girlfriend Ida Heinrich of Singapore; uncle and godfather Robert M. (Margaretmary "Mimi") Weidert of Indian Harbour Beach, Florida; and great aunt Nancy Haugner of Gilbert, Arizona. She is also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. Her beloved Vienna has been adopted and continues as a loved companion.

Stephanie now joins her maternal grandparents William F. Weidert, Sr. and Mary Weidert; paternal grandparents Earl Witthoff and Lynne (Lewis Morris) Witthoff; great aunt Rita Connelly; uncle William F. Weidert, Jr.; aunt Melinda Morris and many other great aunts, uncles, and family.

Memorials in Stephanie's memory can be made to Central Texas Dachshund Rescue or Austin Pets Alive!

Funeral services will be held in Omaha, Nebraska at a later date.

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