Joanne Morris, 81, of Naples, Florida, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and storyteller unexpectedly passed away June 14, 2025.
Born in Iowa and raised in rural Indiana, Joanne developed an early love for learning that guided the rest of her life. As a young single mother, she put herself through college, graduating from Ball State University in 1976. She carved out a career as a dedicated special education teacher with the Collier County Public Schools retiring in 2010. She loved teaching “her kids”, which was any student she encountered in her classroom. Her compassion, creativity, and unwavering belief in every child left an indelible mark on countless lives. She loved working closely with “her girls”, the teaching assistants who shared her passion for the students. She also guided numerous future educators in partnership from Florida Gulf Coast University. Her passions were many; she loved her dogs, nurtured delicate orchids and raised butterflies with the same tenderness she gave to her family.
She was devoted to her three daughters – Joy (Kerry) Loflin, Angela Larson and Amy (Eric) Huffine, and her son, Michael, who preceded her in death. She is survived by eleven grandchildren: Kenneth, Kayli, Ashley, Courtney, Amanda, Lianna, Shawn, Megan, Grace, Tyge, and Lorelai; and six great-grandchildren as well as her sister, Glenda Hopkins, and two nephews.
A memorial service for Joanne will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 from 4-6pm at the Naples Funeral Home at 3107 Davis Blvd, Naples FL.
Joanne’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the love she gave and the stories she shared. She was deeply loved and will be missed beyond measure – but her stories, her strength, and her love will live on in all of us.
In lieu of flowers, Joanne’s wish was for support to be directed to the Special Olympics, https://www.specialolympics.org/get-involved/donate, a cause close to her heart.
Naples Funeral Home
Karen Durflinger King
June 17, 2025, 7:39 pm
To all of Joanne’s family I send my thoughts and prayers. Joanne and I graduated from High School in same class.
I have gotten to see her in person for a long time but we did message once in a while and I know how proud she was of her family. and she was a good friend.
My Prayers and thoughts are with all of you.
Karen Durflinger King
Sandy McMillan
June 18, 2025, 12:53 am
My deepest sympathies to the family. It will take great effort to navigate life without her and a part of my life will be dark without her. She was a wonderful friend and mother figure to me. She always talked about how much I did for her but thats only because she didn’t realize how much she did for me. She was truly there through sickness and in health and even on days I didn’t feel good, I drove away feeling better than when I arrived there. She will certainly be missed!
Marvin Cohen
June 20, 2025, 2:30 pm
Joanne was a fabulous person and a great wife and mother. We had a lot of good times together and I have great memories of our time together. I am glad I wrote to her last year and told her how much I loved and appreciated her in my life and I miss her.
Today I will be at the memorial service in spirit.
Marvin Cohen
Jay Cohen
June 20, 2025, 3:37 pm
Joanne is and was a spectacular human being. Knowing her and to be raised by her a bit as a step child was a mature and unique experience… After messaging Kenny, we spoke of how she would speak to him at the kitchen table like a mature conversation. I had that same experience.. She had wit and determination. We spoke online for years on Facebook. I was gearing up to trek back with my daughter. Joanne certainly knew how to add a little fun to our little/big dysfunction family.
Much Love to You All. Joy, Angela, Amy and your respective families… Rest in Paradise Joanne. Thank you for the lessons…