SIKESTON, Mo. -- Morris Ellison French, 90, of Sikeston died Saturday, March 23, 2002, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston.

He was born Sept. 30, 1911, at Crossville, Ill., son of Fred and Vera Lena Endicott French. He and Gwendolyn Moore were married July 27, 1940, at Chaffee, Mo.

French was the manager of Missouri Utilities in Sikeston until his retirement in 1975. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston and the Henry Meldrum American Legion Post 114. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, with the 841st Air Engineer Squadron as an airplane instrument mechanic. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and six Bronze Stars for air offensive campaigns in Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe, the Ardennes and the Rhineland.

French was a 32nd Degree Mason, member of the Masonic Lodge 615 at Chaffee for more than 60 years and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 702 at West Frankfort, Ill.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Fred S. French of Sikeston; a daughter, Belinda Underhill of Sikeston; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston .

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston, with the Revs. Watis Harrell and Sandy Schaller officiating. Burial will be in the Cape Girardeau County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.