Konda Iris Teague Morrison of Buena Vista passed away surrounded by her family on Jan. 20, 2023, in Roanoke.
Konda was born to John Woodrow and Ruth Berry Teague on March 31, 1937, in Franklin, N.C., where she grew up on a dairy farm. She was the middle child of the family with two wonderful brothers, Vic and Doug Teague, whom she loved very much.
The family had a very strong work ethic, which Konda continued to carry her entire life. She would often be excused from farm work to go in the house and fix a warm lunch for the family as early as age 6. The family also helped run the Prentiss Cannery near their farm. They took pride in being told by local World War II veterans that they were always happy to receive cans of food from Prentiss. Her brothers grew to have farms of their own in Western North Carolina.
Konda attended Western Carolina University where she met Korean War Navy veteran C.J. “Pete” Morrison while she was a freshman and he was a senior. They were married on June 4, 1955, and in the following years they moved from town to town with Burlington Industries. Michael, Anthony, Patrick and Crystal came along and made them a family of six. In the mid 1960s, C.J. was transferred to the Glasgow plant and the family made a home and life there in nearby Buena Vista. C.J. and Konda loved it there and made wonderful friends.
Once all her children were in school, Konda wanted a new challenge, and went to work as a dental assistant for Dr. Rudy Radick. She loved working with the patients and staff there, and Rudy became a lifelong best friend. Later, as the kids grew older, she became an EMT and volunteered with the Buena Vista Rescue Squad. As her love for medicine grew, she went to work for Buena Vista Medical Associates, where she stayed for more than 25 years. She loved her work family there very much. Only at her children’s urging did she reluctantly retire in her mid 70s.
At age 53, she lost C.J. to a heartbreaking battle with cancer after 35 years of marriage. She later lovingly cared for C.J.’s father until his death. As her own parents aged, she spent time in North Carolina assisting with their care. Konda developed Alzheimer’s/Vascular Dementia in the later years of her life. She was a beautiful, feisty, funny, loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to the end. She will be missed beyond measure.
Those left to cherish her memory are Anthony Morrison (Teresa) of Hardy, Patrick Morrison (Sharon) of Lexington and Crystal Hoeppner of Roanoke. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Morrison. She has seven wonderful grandchildren, Justin Boyd, Erica Cundiff (Daniel), Kylie Stanley (Richard), Ian Morrison, Grant Morrison, Lydia Hoeppner and Ella Hoeppner. She has two great-grandchildren, Logan and Wade Stanley. She has a wonderful gaggle of nieces and nephews that she loves dearly in North Carolina. Harold and Joyce Lail have been the kindest neighbors anyone could have. Linda Morrison, Brian Hoeppner and the Radick family hold a special place in all our hearts for the love they have shown Konda through the years.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Buena Vista Rescue Squad, your local hospice, Good Samaritan, 2408 Electric Road, Roanoke VA 24018 (online at GoodSam.care) or to any charity of your choice that you think she would like.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 2:15 p.m. at Green Hill Cemetery. Prior to this at 1 p.m. the family will receive friends at Bolling, Gross and Lotts Funeral Home.
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