Support for the Stacey Jill Morrison Family

Stacey Jill Morrison was admitted to the hospital in the last days of February with severe abdominal pain. Stacey remains in the hospital and is currently in the Oncology ward. The family has shared that she will undergo immediate chemotherapy once the biopsy results are obtained and a diagnosis is made. The anticipation is that she will be undergoing treatment in the hospital for weeks and possibly months.

The Morrisons are not asking for help because they would never do that. Being strong people, they know how to take care of themselves and adapt. As their friend, I want to give their other friends, coworkers, and community the opportunity to help them in this time of need. The gift of having one less thing to worry about at a time of so many worries. I anticipate that any donations received will be used first for unplanned travel expenses. Hotel bills and temporary housing, gas, airline tickets, and shuttles. So they can be with their wife and mom. At the hospital. After that, medical bills. The ones they haven’t received yet.

Stacey and her husband Ray both work for the Cottonwood Oak Creek School District in the Verde Valley, AZ. Stacey is the Art Teacher and Librarian at Oak Creek Elementary School. She has also been the Title I teacher and has read books to my grandson, my kids, and many, many other children. She loves teaching art and even teaches art in afterschool programs when a grant is received to allow them. I have many art projects hanging on my walls. Stacey is very talented and her talents and enthusiasm extend to her students. Enthusiasm brought home by children-“Look at what I made!” Beautiful! Not refrigerator worthy, wall worthy.

Ray is the Facilities Supervisor for the school district. He has spent countless paid and unpaid hours working at the various campuses of COCSD making repairs, attending to emergencies, and making sure work is done correctly. Ray always made sure my very tall daughter had a desk that didn’t rest on her knees. The sprinklers need to work so spring soccer and baseball can happen. The classrooms need to be ready when school opens. The classrooms need to be ready after the waterlines freeze and flood the building during winter break. I can only imagine the other countless tasks that he performs that are so meaningful to the recipients. Ray notices things and acts on them.  Some of you know Ray is also a pilot and airplane mechanic from the Sedona Airport.  Others know him from his kayaking passion.  

Here is Stacey’s bio on the school website:

My name is Stacey Morrison, and I am the Librarian and Art teacher. I have worked at OCS for over 20 years. I have a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Michigan. I live in Cornville and both of my children attended school at OCS, then Mingus Union High School. My favorite things to do are reading and art, so I am the luckiest person to have the job of my dreams!

Can you imagine! A talented and caring person whose two favorite things she gets to share with our kids! We are the lucky ones!

Ray and Stacey have two amazing adult children--Sarah of Beaverton, OR and John of Salt Lake City, UT. Both are good friends with my own adult kids. Both are also very kind, courteous, and strong just like their parents. Today, they are both here but will have to travel back and forth as much as their jobs will allow. Due to the pandemic, the hospital only allows 2 visitors a day. Once they arrive at the hospital, they cannot leave and return. Taking turns visiting and sharing visitation time with other family will be a hardship.

Friends, coworkers, and the community in general have been frustrated because we have been unable to help. Ray and Stacey are very private people and as a practice do not share their burdens. They are the type of people who help instead. Volunteer. Adopt unwanted animals. Solve a problem. Help a friend fix something. You name it. They do it. Without complaint.

Stacey has unselfishly worked thousands of hours volunteering for school events. She can be seen selling popcorn at the Old Tyme Country Fair or manning a game booth or cake walk. She has made murals for the stage and decorated the gym. She has built and run the haunted house at Halloween. She decorates the library with a new theme every year and makes the props herself.  She organizes the book fair every year and chaperones at school dances. Her own kids haven’t attended the school in over fifteen years.

Ray was yet again helping me with a project and had been away from his family for a few days. I don’t remember exactly what the conversation was about. It could have been his favorite thing or what he missed the most, but to this day I remember in my mind’s eye the reflection in his eyes and his response: “Stacey’s smile.” That was the most intense love I’ve ever witnessed.

Stacey has a love of animals. I remember once that she was trying to find a home for a dog that no one wanted. The dog had a nerve problem and couldn’t control her leg. The dog would randomly raise her leg uncontrollably as if trying to salute. Stacey adopted the dog and named her Twitch.  Twitch was one of many adoptees.  A beloved horse named Bill.  A long list of dogs and cats.  Feral chickens.

My first thought in writing this was to describe in one word the type of person Stacey is. Kind was my first thought. Gentle. Gracious.  Humble.  Slightly eccentric. But only to the point of being herself. She has a love of horses. And sea turtles. I’ve never heard her say an unkind word nor utter a complaint. From the bottom of her rounded toe cat shoes to the top of her Rowdy the Roadrunner mascot costume, she is always smiling. Selfless. One word is not enough.

Now it is our turn to help.  If you are one of the former students, colleagues, or friends who have been on the receiving end of Ray and Stacey's talents and generosity, please consider making a donation.  Every lit bit will help.  All the funds raised will go directly to Ray Morrison so he and his children can focus exclusively on supporting and loving Stacey to speed her recovery.  

If you can donate, please do and share your warmest thoughts of Stacey.  If you cannot, please share this link.  Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and generosity!