Peter Morrall Obituary, Death – Peter Anthony Morrell died on August 1, 2020, at home, surrounded by his beloved family, following a valiant two-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Pete Morrell was born on December 10, 1934, in Beaumont, Texas, to Nunzie and Mary Morrell. He was the youngest of three siblings, the others being Rosemary Luke and Jo Theresa Sowell. Pete worked at Morrell’s Bakery, which his parents owned. Pete was immensely proud of his Italian background and would often joke that he was 400% Italian because all four of his grandparents were Italian. Pete graduated from St. Anthony’s High School in 1953, where he made friends for life. Pete then worked his way through Lamar University, doing everything from selling religious literature door to door to teaching football, baseball, and basketball at his old school.

Pete graduated from Lamar University in 1962 and worked as a Program Director for the Parks and Recreations Department in Orange, Texas, before moving on to roles of greater responsibility and eventually becoming Acting City Manager within 10 years. Pete acquired the post of Greeley’s Deputy City Manager in January 1973 and maintained it until December 1973, when he was elevated to City Manager, a position he kept until October 1986. During his term as City Manager, he was a key figure in advocating the construction of Centennial Village, the Senior Center, the Recreation Center, the Union Colony Civic Center, and the restoration of the Island Grove Arena when it burned down in 1977. Pete was noted for his cheerful personality, good attitude, sense of humor, goal-oriented approach to life, and desire to serve people. Pete founded Morrell & Associates, a Leadership Management International-affiliated leadership, management, and development business, in 1986.

Pete has worked with hundreds of enterprises, organizations, and individuals during the course of the firm’s 35-year history, including non-profit organizations, financial, retail, governmental, medical, and educational institutions, and individuals. He served on LMI’s Leadership Council and received several distinctions, including the Judy Harbaugh Servants Heart Award and the 2019 Facilitator of the Year Award, both for the United States. Pete was heavily interested in community groups and projects in addition to his commercial career. Pete was a member of the Greeley Rotary Club, the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, the Boy Scouts of America-Long Peaks Council, the Greeley Transitional House, and the Colorado City Managers Association. He served on the boards of the Greeley/Weld Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Weld County, and the Weld County Chapter of the American Red Cross. For 22 years, he served on the Miss Rodeo Colorado Committee and volunteered for a number of other non-profit organizations.

Pete was committed to doing his part to improve the town. He was a member and facilitator of the Greeley Downtown Association, as well as a key member of the Downtown Development Authority. He co-chaired two successful capital finance efforts for Greeley and School District 6. The Greeley/Weld Chamber of Commerce recognized Pete with the Winner’s Circle Designation and the Leann Anderson Community Caring Award. He and his wife Jean were also named Greeley Stampede Grand Marshals, United Way Humanitarians of the Year, Boy Scouts of America-Longs Peak Council “Sonny” Mapelli Humanitarian Award recipients, and King and Queen of the last Greeley Chorale Madrigal Feaste. Pete loved spending time with his family and friends, and he was fond of giving people nicknames.

He cherished spending time with his daughter Giesele and son Kent, as well as their families. Watching his grandchildren at sporting events, dancing, playing dominoes, motorcycle trips with friends, attending UNC, UCCC, and Greeley Stampede events, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life and other community events, ushering at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, participating in the Social Science Circle, or relaxing with a good book were some of his favorite pastimes. Pete is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Jean; sister Jo Theresa Sowell; daughter Giesele Morrell Naibauer (Dennis) and son Kent (Arlene); grandchildren Brandon Nash (Hayley), Braeden Morrell-Miller, Kyanne Morrell and Chandler Morrell; great grandchildren Kynlee and Lane Nash and many beloved nieces and nephews including Sonny Wegner (Rhonda), Patricia Schroeder (Bill), Rodney Sowell (Janice), Mary Hutson and Mike Sowell (Carrie) all in Texas.