Former Chief Deputy Phillip L. "Phil" Morris, 81, of Cross Lanes, passed away Monday, May 27, 2024 at CAMC General Division.

He served as Chief Deputy of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department for eight years under former Sheriff Dave Tucker.

Phil was a graduate of Dunbar High School, attended WV State College and graduated from Morris Harvey College.  He joined the Charleston Police Department in October 1970 and rose through the ranks to Lieutenant which he achieved in March of 1992.  He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge No. 74.  He was a certified Polygraph Examiner.

In 1982 Phil was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division where he proudly served until 1988.  In 1991 he became the Commander of the Traffic Division, a position he held until he retired in 1997.

In January 1997 Phillip joined the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department as the Chief Deputy of Law Enforcement.  Together with Sheriff Tucker, he helped to spearhead the first county wide Community Policing Program with deputies getting to know the constituents of Kanawha County.  They established the Kanawha County Sheriff's Bomb Squad, built a state-of-the-art training and shooting range at Camp Virgil Tate, established a Special Response Team, and outfitted their Deputies with state of the art equipment and computers in cruisers.  Phil was proud to serve as Chief Deputy and of the work that was accomplished by all the men and women at the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department.    He was also worked to get raises and proper overtime pay for the deputies who protect and serve us all.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents, former Charleston Police Chief Lawrence H. and Evelyn P. Morris; his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Morris; son, Sgt. Michael Phillip Morris; and brother, Larry W. Morris.

Left to cherish his memory and mourn his passing are his wife, Carolyn Morris; sister, Dianne Salyers; cousin, Lisa Lynn; nieces, Melissa, Cindy, Sara, and Myndie (Rob); grandchildren, Kimberly, Kristen (Corey), Kara, Makenzie, Ranger, and Maggie; great-grandchildren,, Arabella, Jackson, Remington, Rayleigh, and Ember.  Along with his life long friends, Dave (Denise) and Noel.

The family wishes to extend many thanks to the Charleston Police Department, Kanawha County Sheriff's Department, and other Law Enforcement throughout the county.

Funeral services to honor his memory will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, May 31st at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Archie Snedegar officiating.  Entombment will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, Saint Albans, WV.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

www.kellerfuneralhome.net