MARQUETTE — Madeline ‘Caroll’ Morris, 85, passed at home near Kanopolis Lake Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Born June 1, 1941, to Henry and Dorothy Smith of Salina, she married John Morris of Salina on June 5, 1960.

After trying her hand in different careers, Caroll studied nursing at Kansas Wesleyan University and became a Registered Nurse in Salina specializing in geriatric nursing, rising to the level of Quality Assurance Director, ensuring the residents of her facility were given the best care possible. When offered, she leapt at the opportunity to teach future nurses at the Salina Area Technical College until her retirement. Her success in the field inspired her daughter, Lynn Lapka, to attend nursing school and also to eventually teach at SATC.

Caroll and her family were avid campers, spending numerous weekends at Wilson Lake every year. Caroll and John retired to a small place near Kanopolis Lake where Caroll socialized with lake visitors on the weekends and tended to her vegetable garden during the week. She was skilled at home canning, preserving her gardening work for the winter months and sharing with others.

Caroll is survived by her son, John R. Morris, Jr. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her daughter, Lynn.

Honoring Caroll’s wishes, there will not be a service in her honor. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/) or to the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/), two organizations Caroll proudly supported. Online condolences may be left at www.ryanmortuary.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Ryan Mortuary, Inc.

137 N. 8th Street

Salina, KS 67401

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 19, 2026