On Tuesday, July 23, 2013, the kindly insurance agent cashed in his 90 year policy for a one way trip to paradise.  He is now free of the ailments which hindered him in his final years.  Morris Chantland Knutson was born in Patterson, California.  He was the eldest child of the late George and Dena (Chantland) Knutson.  As a boy, Morris learned responsibility as he helped his mother care for his siblings.  He was a natural born salesman; at the age of 12 he delivered The Modesto Bee by bicycle.  By 16, with the help of his first car, Morris expanded his clientele to 300 customers.  As a young adult, he attended Modesto Junior College.  Following the onset of the Second World War, Morris enlisted in the Army Air Force in late 1942.  The military trained him as a finance officer at Louisiana State.  He served the remainder of the war with the 301st Airdrome Squadron in Nadzab, New Guinea. In May 1946, following his discharge from the service, Morris was struck by Cupid’s arrow when he met a pretty brunette from Turlock named Velura Hulett.  They married on April 6, 1947 and settled in Berkeley.  In 1948, the couple was blessed by the birth of their only child, a son, Allen. Following his graduation from Armstrong Business College, Morris worked five years for Montgomery Ward before moving the family to Turlock.  He began a fulfilling career as an agent for New York Life Insurance in 1954 and held that position until his retirement in 1997 at age 75.  In 2004, the firm recognized him for 50 years of dedicated service.   He and Velura always enjoyed traveling to conventions in California, Idaho, Arizona, and Canada. In addition to his company duties, Morris was a member of the Modesto Life Insurance Underwriters and past president of the Modesto Insurance Estate Planning Commission.  He was also a former member of the Turlock Lion’s Club.  His favorite past-times were playing golf and gardening.   He was especially proud of the putting-green he had installed in his backyard. He leaves behind his treasured wife of 66 years, Velura, and his daughter-in-law, Monika Knutson, both of Turlock.  Also surviving are his brother John (Lynn) Knutson of Las Vegas, Nevada and his sister Jean Redmond of Placerville as well as several nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, Morris is preceded in death by his son Allen, sisters Doris Parker, Dorothea Knutson, and Adele Furtado, and his beloved mother-in-law Agnes Hulett Findley. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 2, 2013 from 2-8pm with services on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Whitehurst, Norton, and Dias Chapel 286 West Main, Turlock with Pastor Ronald Youngdale of the Good Shepard Lutheran Church presiding.  Burial will follow with full military honors at Turlock Memorial Park.  Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. Always with a kind word, and forever honest, Morris was a true-blue gentleman and for that he will wear a crown in heaven. www.whitehurstnortondiasfunerals.com