URGENT UPDATE: Retired Tewksbury Fire Chief James J. Morris, aged 97, has passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on November 12, 2025. Morris was a lifelong resident of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and dedicated over three decades to protecting his community.
Morris’s death marks the loss of a beloved local figure, who served the Tewksbury Fire Department for 38 years before retiring in 1988. He was known for his unwavering commitment to firefighting and the safety of Tewksbury’s residents. His family includes his wife, Constance R. Morris, married for an incredible 73 years, and four children: Deborah J. Goodwin of Merrimack, NH, James W. Morris of Dunstable, and Constance R. Morris of Tewksbury. He was predeceased by his son, Frederick R. Morris.
Born on June 28, 1928, in Lowell, MA, Morris graduated from Tewksbury High School in 1949 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, receiving an honorable discharge in 1952. His legacy extends to eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, along with countless extended family members.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Wednesday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, located at 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:30 a.m. at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main Street, Route 38, Tewksbury, with interment at St. Mary Cemetery, 90 River Road, Tewksbury.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Morris’s memory to the Salvation Army at www.SalvationArmyMA.org/Lowell.
This is a developing story, and further details will be provided as they emerge. Friends and community members remember Morris not just as a fire chief but as a devoted family man who left a remarkable impact on Tewksbury.
