Morris Eugene Sweeney

          

Philippians 3:20-21 - For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for our Savior, Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of HIS GLORY.

After traveling this earth's sod for over 95 years, Morris Eugene Sweeney, better known as Sweeney, Dad and Boo-Boo, claimed his citizenship in heaven on Jan. 26, 2016, where he resides with his Heavenly Father.

Sweeney was born July 15, 1920, in Denver, Colorado, to Nellie Elizabeth Morrell and Elbert Morris Sweeney. He lived through the depression and graduated from East Denver High School in 1938. He went to Colorado School of Mines, majoring in Chemical Engineering, leaving school in 1942, to join the Air Force. While training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo and spending time at Bruce Field in Ballinger, he met Julia (Judy) Sorrells. After a brief courtship, they married on Jan. 1, 1944. The war ended before Sweeney had a chance to go overseas, but he spent three years in various positions training other pilots who joined the war effort overseas. Like many others, Sweeney joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve immediately upon his discharge and retired in 1969, as a lieutenant colonel. After the war ended, he began his teaching career in Ballinger. He received his BA degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1949, and his MA from Hardin-Simmons in 1952. He taught hundreds of BHS students science and mathematics, he sponsored the yearbook for over 30 years. He also sponsored the science club from 1948-1983, and was a senior sponsor from 1948 until his retirement in 1983. He and his wife, Judy, went as sponsors on over 30 senior trips. Over the course of time in the teaching field, Sweeney was awarded many grants to study advanced science. Among those being a grant to study Radiation Biology at New Mexico University and an engineering grant to develop a transistor from titanium oxide to be used as a strain gauge for the engineering department at New Mexico University. He received a grant from the Atomic Energy Commission to monitor the radioactive Zinc in the Columbia River, resulting from waste water from the nuclear power plant at Hanford, Washington. He also received credit from Angelo State University for developing a laboratory manual on radiation for high school and college students. After his retirement, he pursued his favorite hobbies: golf, fishing, hunting and being a photographer. Sweeney loved the land. He fished every lake, river, and tank around Runnels County plus the Rio Grande in Colorado, the Gulf Coast and many others in various states. He cataloged all his fishing and hunting trips. Sweeney had taken over 500 weddings when he closed his photography business in the early 1990s. The last years of his life he devoted to serving others. From 1994 until 2010, he faithfully ministered to both nursing homes in Ballinger, where he brought a devotional every Sunday morning at what once was Heritage Oaks, now Ballinger Healthcare and Rehab Center, as well as visited residents twice a week. He and his wife, Judy, delivered Meals on Wheels every Wednesday for many years and he continued this mission after Judy passed away. He was dedicated to distributing the book, Truth for Youth, to many organizations throughout Runnels County. He became a Christian at the age of 28 and was baptized in First Baptist Church of Ballinger. In 2002, Sweeney was selected as Citizen of the Year by the Ballinger Chamber of Commerce.

Sweeney was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 59 years, Judy; his daughter, Patty Dunn; and his sister and brother in-law, Dorothy and Paul Russ.

He is survived by one daughter, Judy Pleasants and husband Tommy of Weatherford; five grandchildren, Brad Dunn and wife Mary Ann of Duncanville, Kelly Werner and husband Greg of Arlington, Stacy Wilson and husband Myron of Melissa, Scott Pleasants and wife Buffie of Fort Worth and Jennifer Wade and husband Jon of Rockwall. Boo-Boo was blessed with ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He is survived by his sister, Nancy Chandler and husband Denis of Arvada, Colorado; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He has not gone away, his journey has just begun. Life holds many facets this earth is only one. He will be missed by all those who loved him.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church in Ballinger. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at First Baptist Church in Ballinger with Lynn Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Ballinger.

Arrangements are with Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. Guests may register online at ballingerfuneralhome.com.

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Until we meet again, goodbye Sweeney..

Love and peace,

Marilyn

FLY, SHIVER, AND SHAKE

Our part-time resident of Warsaw, part-time resident of Port Jefferson, New York, DENNY HILL, just returned from spending the winter break at his home in Warsaw. He sent lots of interesting facts and articles about the politics happening there, the people he met, and friends he made. This email I received today I thought would take our minds off the political arena in the U.S, today, as well as make us who still live in Texas appreciate our weather. That is, unless you live in the Panhandle! Here in Austin it will be 69 degrees tomorrow, and 73 on Monday. 

"On my flight from Warsaw to New York, on LOT (Polish Airlines) 026, our captain was a female pilot! (I have had female captains before on smaller planes, like from Atlanta to Shreveport, but this was the first time I had one on an international long haul jumbo jet.) She made a perfect landing at JFK.

While waiting for the flight in Warsaw, I got to talking to some guy, who is an American, but was born in Lithuania, so has dual citizenship. He now lives in Manhattan and in Florida. He told me he retired early (was in finance, an investment banker, so probably made tons of money). Anyhow, after retirement, he returned to Lithuania, entered politics there, and was elected to their parliament for 4 years. He was financial advisor to the president there, and eventually became Finance Minister of Lithuania. But now he has given it up, because as he told me, the Soviet mentality there is so firmly ingrained, that it is impossible to change anything. Bribes are still standardly accepted to get anything done, and the establishment resists any attempt to clean up the corruption.

I barely made it home before it started to snow. New York City is now totally shut down because of the snow. Already I have a foot of snow in my yard, and it is still snowing heavily, so I might end up with 2 feet" ...Denny

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Not to burst your bubble, Denny, but I heard on the news you will probably get 30 inches! The worst blizzard to hit New York in 90-years, it has caused the City to shut down the buses and subways, closed tunnels and bridges, and threatened to arrest anyone who is driving on the streets tonight. 

There was a massive shutdown of highways in Kentucky, leaving thousands of motorists stranded overnight. However, even in the worst of times there are those who manage to have a little fun. Of course, this band happened to be in (I assume) a toasty warm RV, with food and drink. Tap your toes.

On that note, I'm going to say "good night", and may your home be warm and peaceful this winter.

Love,

Marilyn

P.S.

I need new photos of many of you! Please send me recent ones via email or snail mail (I'll scan them and return them to you.) Along with them, why not share some news with us? Good stuff still happens.

A couple of days ago I received the following from DOROTHY BISHOP ROGERS. It is very moving and wise, so I thought I would share it with all of you.

Dear friend, 

As I watched this video, with tears in my eyes I thought of our class and the upcoming milestone in this class’s life. I thought of you, Marilyn, and all you do to keep us in touch. Life is much too sweet to waste. 

Love to all,

Dottie

We have started the New Year, and may it be with optimism and hope for the future as we continue our journey.

Love and Peace,

Marilyn