Morris Neil Sargent

Click below to listen to the funeral service. Available until October 19, 2016.

Patricia Ann Sargent, with profound sorrow, informs relatives and friends of the passing of her beloved husband, Morris Neil Sargent, 81, on July 16, 2016.

Morris led a most remarkable and noteworthy life.  Born November 17, 1934 in the Territory of Alaska, he was christened one week later in the Kodiak Russian Orthodox Church.

As a young man, he served honorably in the U.S. Air Force having been stationed in Texas, Mississippi, and England.  During his time in Norwich, England Morris was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was a devoted, dedicated, and devout member for the rest of his life.

Upon his military discharge he attended BYU where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree.  He then attended Columbia University in New York City earning a Master of Arts degree.  After his schooling, he worked as the Assistant Art Director for NBC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.  He was proud of having created the re-entry and splashdown package for NBC’s coverage of the Skylab III Mission.  He also contributed his talents to NBC’s “The Today Show,” “Gene Shalit’s Critics Corner,” and “The NBC Nightly News.”  His work on the documentary, “The Energy Crisis,” helped NBC win the prestigious Peabody Award.  After moving to Salt Lake City he worked for both KTVX and KSL as a News graphic artist. 

Morris married Margo Bates in 1968 (divorced) and then married his sweetheart, Patricia Ann (Elwood) Sargent in the Salt Lake Temple on October 5, 1977.

Morris’ great gift of teaching led to a successful and outstanding career in education.  He taught English and Art for 34 years starting at the Bronx Community College, The City University of New York (CUNY) and then in Salt Lake at Highland High School and West High School where he was the head of both the English and Art departments.

Ever a teacher, Morris blessed others with this gift while serving as an assistant Sea Scout Advisor in Brooklyn. He also served in the LDS Church in the Stake Sunday School Presidency, Stake Mission Presidency, High Priest Group Leadership, and as a High Priest Instructor and Gospel Doctrine Teacher with his wife.

He loved the outdoors and was particularly fond of skiing in Vermont and Utah, and hiking in Alaska, Utah, Vermont, and Scotland.  Walking tours of Manhattan and London were also among his favorite memories.

Morris is survived by his loving wife of nearly 39 years, Patricia Ann (Elwood) Sargent; two daughters, Kimberli Elizabeth (Victor) Smaellie, Tooele; and Patricia Lynn Sargent (Salt Lake City); seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by a brother, Walter Sargent (Kodiak, Alaska) and 2 sisters: Carol Speight (Everett, Wash.) and Merry Whitten, (Yelm, Wash.)  He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Rob McCuistion.

“There are no roses on a sailor’s grave,

No lilies on an ocean wave,

The only tribute is the seagulls’ sweeps,

And the teardrops that a sweetheart weeps.”

A funeral service will be held Thursday, July 21 at 1pm at the Fortuna LDS Chapel on 4407 So. Fortuna Way (3695 E.), where friends may visit with the family from 11:00am-12:30pm prior to the funeral service.  An online guestbook is available at www.HolbrookMortuary.com to post messages and tributes for the family.