Morris “Bird” Leroy Sparrow
December 11, 1937 – April 3, 2024
Born to John Wilbur Sparrow and Ada Hannah Bambrough in the old Simpson Hotel in Smithville, Georgia. He was always proud of his Southern roots and food – especially ham, pecans and pimento cheese.
In 1947 he started third grade in Sweet Home, Oregon and went on to graduate from Sweet Home Union High School in 1956 where he got his nickname and made many lifelong friends. He was a proud member of the Sweet Home Elks and a volunteer fireman and always considered Sweet Home his hometown.
In 1956 he married Charlene Luttrell with whom he had three children: Audrey, and twins Ben and Ellen.
He worked in the propane business for a time and in 1964 began his 35-year career with Northwest Natural Gas Company as a serviceman and customer service supervisor. His genial personality and soft-spoken ways served him well in those capacities. He retired In 1999.
In 1979 he married Alice Jane Brown and they moved to Corvallis in August 1981. They traveled to Germany to see family and to England, Scotland, Las Vegas, and Hawaii with her friends from high school.
He very much enjoyed his camping trips over the years with his buddy Curt Wolfenbarger, and more recently his “Man Camp” trips with friends were the highlight of every year. Laughter was the order of the day and many very funny stories came out of those Man Camp trips.
Morris died at home, age 86, after a long bout with heart issues and COPD and will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Alice, daughter Audrey Warren of Maryland, son Ben of Sisters, OR, daughter Ellen of Tigard, OR, grandson Matthew David Warren, and half-sister Mimi Suzanne Poitras (Paul Biwan) of Corvallis, OR.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved step-father William J. Poitras, and his sister Rosa Lee Sparrow who died in 1958.
At his request no services will be held. Cremation by McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis.
Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.