Morris Karl Dunlap

Morris Karl Dunlap, 84, died February 24, 2024. He was born November 5, 1939, to parents Kathryn and Merle Dunlap in Wichita. Morris graduated from Wichita East High School with an additional certificate in votech auto mechanics.Morris was employed by Dick Price Motors Wichita, and Dunlap Chevrolet in Estes Park Colorado as a mechanic. In 1958 he enrolled at Wichita University and studied there for two semesters while being employed by Boeing in the engineering lab as a test technician. In 1961 he moved to Brighton Colorado and was timekeeper and payroll assistant at Colorado Industrial. 1962 Morris was drafted into the army and sent to Missouri for basic training and to Ft Hood, Texas for advanced training. He was assigned to the Headquarters of the First Armored Division as a helicopter line chief until his release in early 1965. He returned to Kansas and enrolled in a business curriculum at Emporia State College. While a student there he earned his pilot's license and managed the flying school at the Emporia airport. During this period, he also was a projectionist at the local theater in Emporia. In 1968 Morris graduated with a BSB and moved to Wichita where he began his career as a tour guide at the Cessna Aircraft Company factories. In late 1968 Morris was assigned as the Single Engine Representative for eastern Canada based in Kitchener, Ontario. He returned to Wichita and married Katherine Anne Myers at Broadway Christian Church on the 8th of February 1969. Morris was reassigned to manage the single engine sales for Cessna in western Canada and the couple moved to Calgary right after the wedding. In March of 1972 Morris was appointed zone Sales Manager for Cessna in Canada and they relocated to Winnipeg. In 1978 Morris was named as Central Region Manager covering the center portion of the United States for Cessna sales and dealers. Next Cessna chose him to open a new territory and they moved to Albuquerque New Mexico for 3 years. In 1981 Morris was promoted to manage all Cessna propeller driven aircraft sales in the eastern half of the United States and moved back to headquarters in Wichita. With several short-term assignments as International Contract and Proposal manager, and some months as an international manager for North America Morris ended his career with Cessna. Morris and Kathy purchased Miracle Sign company, Miracle Crane service, quickly added Air Capital Crane service, and Terrific T's a screen-printing company, and then moved from 734 S Washington to a much larger factory location at 3611 N. Broadway in Wichita. While owners of Miracle Morris became involved in the National Electric Sign Association as the president of the Central States Division, Wichita Area Builders Association, as a member of the Board of Directors and leader of several committees, the Wichita Independent Business Association and served as the Chairman, the Wichita Executives Association and was elected to the Chairman position. For six years Morris was a member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and had two terms as Chairman. When they sold Miracle he was recruited to be President of two startup companies in the aviation and the sign business. These companies continue today.Morris earned a Real Estate License and then his Kansas Real estate Brokers license. His target market was large commercial buildings for sale. In 2006 Morris and Kathy sold their home near Valley Center and moved to Mineola, Texas. Using Mineola as a base the couple traveled much of the United States and some of Canada attending special interest car shows and touring with other car enthusiasts. This touring used a large motor home and then several special modified cars with the principal one being a 1970 Monte Carlo Chevrolet. While in Texas they built a cottage for Kathy for her sewing and crafts, a large shop for Morris to work on modification and restoration of old cars and built a large home on twenty acres just outside of Minneola. In 2021 they sold their investment property and their home and moved back to Wichita.Morris is survived by his wife, Kathy, and by his sisters, Rebecca Blasdel of Boise, Idaho, and Kendra Moase of Bowmanville, Ontario Canada.Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.