Beatrice Josephine “Bea” Morrow, age 93, died peacefully at her home on January 5, 2025.
Bea was born to Harley and Mamie Bridge on March 19, 1931 at Mrs. Glendy’s house in Crawford, Nebraska. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Crawford where she spent her days exploring, using her imagination, and getting dirty with her brothers. Being the only girl, she was naturally a tomboy and loved being outside. From a very young age she loved school and her grades reflected her love of learning. She was especially proud of her beautiful handwriting. In school, she enjoyed acting, singing and playing baseball.
She started working at the young age of 10 as a farm hand. She also worked cooking, cleaning and babysitting for families in the area who were stationed at Fort Robinson during World War II. During high school she attended college classes on the weekends and spent one summer after graduation earning her teaching certificate from Chadron State College. She taught at a one-room schoolhouse in Glen, Nebraska through the “blizzard of ‘49”.
In 1949, she married Ray Owens in Crawford, two sons were born of this marriage. Unfortunately, the marriage ended after 3 years. At the age of 25, she began working at Mountain Bell as a telephone operator. During this time, she reconnected with an old friend, Fred Morrow and the two fell in love. They were married on December 10, 1955. Bea transferred to the Casper, Wyoming Mountain Bell Telephone. Over the next few years, the family followed Fred’s employment hauling crude oil for various companies. Their union produced a third son while in Upton, Wyoming. In 1960, the family moved to Jeffrey City where Bea worked as a substitute teacher. A couple years later, they moved to Medicine Bow where Bea worked as a manager of the town's only grocery store. In 1965, Bea, her husband Fred and their three boys moved to Riverton, Wyoming. Bea worked for Dr. Ray Gossett as a Dental Assistant and was honored to be the President of the Wyoming Dental Assistants Association and delegate to the National Conventions. She left Dr. Gossett’s practice and went to work at Katherine Gray, applying patterns to porcelain and soaps, among other things. Her final job before retirement was at the Fremont County District Court where she worked as a clerk of court for over 15 years before retiring.
Bea was a hard worker with an incredible work ethic but she knew how to have fun too. While at home in Riverton, she was her kids’ biggest fan. She was very proud of her sons and all their accomplishments. She loved cheering them on. Growing up with her brothers, she became very competitive, which really showed later in her life as an avid bowler and golfer.
She and her best friend Lois loved to travel. She visited almost all 50 states in the continental U.S. and had a magnet on her refrigerator from each state she visited. She also enjoyed trips to visit her family in California and Texas as well as an (almost) annual trip to Crawford, Nebraska in the summer for her class reunion activities. Outside the country, she enjoyed trips to Mexico, Canada, Ireland, England and Scotland. She told the terrifying story of leaning out a window of the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. When it came time to relax, for Bea, there was nothing better than staying up late, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes and telling stories. She read thousands of books in her lifetime and loved sharing her latest read. She was an excellent cook. Her fried chicken was often requested for birthday celebrations. In recent years, she didn’t leave the house as often, but she was always up for a trip to the casino with her “lucky twenty”.
Being the only girl in her family and having all sons, she was especially delighted to have such wonderful daughters in law that she considered her own daughters. She loved her family fiercely and made sure to tell everyone how blessed she was to have such a wonderful family. Although she didn’t attend church as an adult, everyone knew she was a devout Christian by the way she lived her life.
She is survived by her sons, William (Eileen) Owens, Stanley (Tracy) Owens, and Scott (Lori) Morrow; grandchildren, Jolene (John) Arnold, Aimee (Ronald) Long, Tammi (Jim) Eads, Kristi (Todd) Smith, Abbigail (TJ) Vaughn and Jared (Jenny) Morrow; numerous great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Wallace Morrow; parents Harley and Mamie Bridge; grandparents Henry and Malona Bridge and Joseph and Lorene Jensen; brothers Harley “Tuffy” Bridge, Gerald “Jerry” Bridge, Robert “Bobby” Bridge and Danny Bridge; grandson, Brian Owens; and great granddaughter, Trinity Coyle.
Per Bea’s wishes, cremation has taken place and graveside services will take place later this spring at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton, Wyoming.
On-line condolences for Bea’s family may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Arrangements under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments,