William R. Morey was born in the small dessert town of Globe, Arizona in 1919. Later, his family moved to Long Beach, CA where he spent his youth. He enlisted into the U.S. Navy in 1940, and was aboard the battleship Oklahoma December 7, 194 1 when it was struck by four torpedoes, during the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the ship rolled over, he walked onto its keel, but was forced to dive into the water and swim to shore, because of enemy strafing. William Morey received his flight training in Pensacola, FL, where he met and later married Lela Mary Caro, his wife of 64 years. As a combat pilot, he flew countless missions in the South Pacific; mostly as close-in support for Marine operations on various islands and against enemy shipping. During the Korean conflict/war, he acted as a naval intelligence liaison officer with General Douglas MacArthur, both at headquarters Tokyo and aboard MacArthur's flagship, the Mount McKinley. After the war, his flying career included being an instructor pilot, a test pilot, a barrier-patrol pilot and an antisubmarine warfare pilot. In the last three years of his 30 year career, Cdr. William R. Morey was stationed in Washington D.C., where he worked in aerial reconnaissance. While there, he also attended the University of Maryland where he received his B.A. and M.A., in political science, graduating Phi Kappa Phi. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Evelyn Grundy. He is survived by his wife Mary C. Morey and his son William A. Morey. His wife is known to often say that she "really picked a winner when she married "Bill." His son says that his father was the finest man he's ever known. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 1:15pm at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers Family Services, 1901 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.