‘Sea of Lights’ Honors John David “Moose” Morris {video}

Members from the Hardeman County Rescue Squad (HCRS) were joined by other service personnel for a ‘Sea of Lights’ to honor fellow HCRS member John David “Moose” Morris who sadly passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. Any and all emergency service departments inside and outside of Hardeman County were welcome to participate and representatives from Decatur County Rescue, Fayette County Fire, Grand Valley Fire, Hardeman County Sherrif’s, Hickory Valley Fire, Hornsby Fire, Jackson Police, McNairy County Sherrif’s, Middleton Fire, Saulsbury Fire, Selmer Fire, Toone Fire, Whiteville Fire, and Whiteville Police Departments accepted the invitation, not missing the opportunity to celebrate Mr. Morris who served the Hardeman County community for 28 years.

Dalton Wadley and his father, Kent Wadley, both HCRS members, who worked with Mr. Morris, spearheaded the event, with Dalton in the lead.

“Something to honor him and his family and give back to them in a certain way for everything he [Moose] has done for this county,” said Dalton Wadley.

Kent shared more about why he and Dalton wanted to the hold the procession.

“He meant a lot [to us]. He was one of the members who stuck with it,” said Kent Wadley, who was already an HCRS squad member when Moose joined. “Just like the rest of us, he liked being able to help people and saving lives.”

Mr. Wadley worked with Mr. Morris for 28 years at the HCRS and shared that with every residential move Mr. Morris made in Hardeman County, he remained an active member of the HCRS.

“He moved to the Hornsby area, joined Hornsby Fire, and stayed on the rescue squad. When he moved to the Whiteville area, he joined Whiteville Fire, and stayed on the rescue squad. The whole time he has been a member with us,” said Mr. Wadley. “He ended up becoming the chief in Whiteville and did that for several years, and still maintained his membership with the rescue squad. He made calls and did everything with us.”

Kent continued to share about the HCRS squad, which he describes as a big family. He admitted they “argue and squabble” just like a family, but when it comes to being on the team, they work together. He suggested being a part of the family was another reason Moose remained a member all of those years.

Despite the occasion for the Sea of Lights, Mr. Wadley shared a memory about Moose that gave some insight into his personality letting people know Moose was a fun guy.

“We liked to have fun. If we were in a junkyard, we would take an antenna off of a car and we would hit each other with it. It would sting. We also used them as swords,” said Mr. Wadley, who shared more about Moose and his dependability. “He was there all of the time when we needed him. Even when he had his first stroke and there were some things he couldn’t do, he was available and still doing up until he just couldn’t do anymore. Even though he hasn’t been around for the last few months because of his health, we all miss him and wish he were here today instead of having to do this in honor of him. It means a lot and we are going to miss him.”

The Sea of Lights for Moose started at Fred’s Parking lot in Bolivar and traveled down Highway 64 into Whiteville past the fire station. It next traveled on Main Street in Whiteville and returned on Old Highway 64 into Bolivar passing the house of his Moose’s son, William.

One of Moose’s daughters, Deena, was able to attend the event and received hugs and thoughtful words from her extended family. Deena, who is a police officer with the City of Jackson, Tennessee, has a love for community and desire to help others too, characteristics she attributes to her father. As she looked around the parking lot with all of the different service departments represented in honor of her father, she smiled.

“He would have loved this,” said Deena.

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