Washington County Coroner Roger Morris stands outside the coroner’s office.

Courtesy photo

Washington County Coroner Roger Morris this week announced he will seek re-election for a sixth term.

Morris has served as Washington County’s Coroner for the past ten years. Prior to that, he served as a Deputy Coroner for five years and as a licensed embalmer and funeral director for 26 years.

When Morris took office in 2002, the county had no phones or dedicated transport vehicles and relied on private businesses for removal and storage, according to his news release. Morris has since convinced Quorum Court members to dedicate funds to purchasing vehicles, a telephone system with an answering service, and a dedicated coroner’s building.

In 2009, the Quorum Court made the coroner’s position a full-time job.

Governor Mike Beebe appointed Morris to the 12-member Arkansas Coroner’s Task Force. Additionally, Morris was appointed as the Arkansas Representative to the National Institute of Justice.

Morris, a past president of the Northwest Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, lives in Fayetteville with his wife Jennifer and son Hayden.