CLEVELAND, April 16 — M.J. “Mo” Morrow, age 55, of Avon Lake, passed away Saturday, April 14.
Brother Morrow was hired in 1994 as an Executive Staff employee of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and had been serving as the Director of Communications at the time of his unexpected passing. Brother Morrow had been in intensive care since suffering a sudden stroke on April 5.
“Brother Morrow’s unexpected passing is a sad and tragic loss for his family, friends, and the entire Brotherhood,” said Don M. Hahs, BLET National President. “His life-long commitment to the Brotherhood and his passion for the good work of the Brotherhood was unmatched. He will be sorely missed.”
There will be a viewing at Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon-Belden Rd., Avon Lake, Ohio, today from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
He was born November 16, 1951 in East St. Louis, Ill., and moved to Avon Lake 13 years ago from Columbia, Ill. He was a 1969 graduate of Columbia High School. Mo began working for the railroad at the age of 17 and for the past 13 years was employed as the director of communications for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).
Brother Morrow has been on the BLET Staff in Cleveland since August 8, 1994, when he accepted an appointment from then-BLE President Ron McLaughlin.
“Mo’s vast institutional knowledge and his unfaltering loyalty to this proud organization will not be forgotten,” said Bill Walpert, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer.
Brother Morrow’s railroad career began in Dupo, Ill, on the former Missouri Pacific in 1969. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer in January of 1975. Prior to working for the BLET’s Cleveland headquarters, he served for eight years as Local Chairman of Division 48 (St. Louis) and for two years as First Vice-Chairman of the UP-Eastern Region General Committee of Adjustment. He was also administrative assistant to the Committee for several years prior to winning election to First Vice-Chairman.
While in Columbia he was a member of the Sons of the American Legion and Blue Lodge No. 474 F. & A. M. He was the youngest member ever elected to the Dupo, IL school board and was a police commissioner in Dupo. He had also been active with the little league club in Dupo. Mo was very active in politics with the Democratic Party both in Illinois and Ohio. He also enjoyed wood-working, fishing, gardening, the outdoors, and barbecuing.
Mr. Morrow is survived by his wife of nine years, Deborah “Debbie” (nee Kimball); his mother Shirley J. Morrow of Columbia, Ill.; a daughter, Jennifer Morrow of Waterloo, Ill., and a son, Tony Morrow (Becky) of Waterloo, Ill.; four grandchildren, Jordan, Mitchell, Dallas and Aidan; a sister, Denise Fisher (Kirk) of Valmeyer, Ill. and his beloved pet dog, Jake. He was preceded in death by his father, Joel H. Morrow; and grandparents, Horace and Mary Morrow and Elizabeth Middleton and Carl Cook.
“On behalf of the 55,000 men and women of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, I extend deepest sympathies to Brother Morrow’s friends, family and loved ones,” President Hahs said.
Friends may call at the Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon-Belden Rd. Avon Lake from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, April 16. Additional services will be held at the Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia, Ill.. Burial will be private at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.
Memorials may be forwarded to the American Cancer Society, 43099 N. Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035 or the Friendship Animal Protective League, 8303 Murray Ridge Rd. Elyria, OH 44035.