ABOUT ERNEST “ERNIE” MORRIS
Ernest “Ernie” (Albert) Morris was born December 13, 1927 at the family home in the small rural community of Fellows in Kern County, California. He was the oldest of two children of Donald Morris and Jessie (Wilkinson) Morris. He was a fifth generation California cattlemen on both his mother’s and father’s side of the family tree, and he was a great grandson of the late Samuel S. Jobe, a Pony Express rider and stage coach driver.
Ernie spent much of his youth on the family ranch in Kings County, California. After the tragic accidental death of his father when Ernie was 12 years old, his family moved to the Paso Robles area of San Luis Obispo County, California to be closer to other family members. During his high school years Ernie began working on some of the largest livestock ranches in the central coast area of California where he worked with older men who followed the California Vaquero horsemanship and livestock handling style. There he found the beginning of a fascination that lasted throughout his life. His love for livestock and the ranching life knew no bounds. He held very high regard for the daily working cowboys who practiced vaquero ways.
Ernie especially credited his grandfather, Jesse Wilkinson, with teaching him many of the vaquero ways and the techniques for making quality rawhide equipment. Jesse was well-known in the California central coast area as an excellent vaquero and a master rawhide worker. When Ernie asked his grandfather to teach him details of expert rawhide braiding, Jesse had two requirements. He said “I’ll teach you the rawhide business from A to Z, if you’ll make me two promises. Never cheat people in anything you do, and do what I tell you. If you can’t get it I want you ‘barking at the hole’.” Ernie made that promise, and the lessons began. Under Jesse’s tutelage Ernie became an expert horseman, livestock man and rawhide braider, and a knowledge source and encouragement for many aspiring horsemen and rawhide braiding aficionados.
Ernie spoke with pride about the six years he spent in the Navy. He served tours in the latter part of WWII and the early part of the Korean War, in addition to other global commissions.
Ernie and his wife Blanche were married on March 10, 1954. They eventually settled to their ranch near Templeton in San Luis Obispo County where they raised Blanche’s two children, Linda and Ralph. Ernie and Blanche were married for more than 64 years when Blanche passed away in 2018. They were an icon couple at numerous public events.
Ernie’s art talents began to show at an early age, with special interests in the California Vaquero. Vaquero art was a hobby until 1964 when he took up art as a full-time occupation. In 1967 Ernie began placing a small hackamore beside his name on his drawings and paintings as a symbol to connect his art and his rawhide work.
Ernie prided himself in creating authentic vaquero remembrances in all aspects – people, horses, equipment, cattle, terrain, livestock situations, etc. He created vaquero art with pen & ink, pencil, charcoal, watercolor, oils, acrylic, bronze sculpting, wood carving, rawhide braiding, and horse hair mecates. His paintings and drawings provide a vivid and colorful replay of his personal experiences while working on various ranches in his younger days, and the many stories told to him by “old-timer cowboys” he knew. His art, rawhide work, and books have been featured in galleries, museums, and private collections throughout the United States and many parts of the world.
Ernie authored and illustrated seven popular books about vaquero horsemanship and livestock handling. He also illustrated several books and publications for other authors, and he was published in numerous newspaper and magazine articles regarding horse training methods, rawhide braiding, western art, etc.
He was a one-of-a-kind traditionalist and an icon to the California Vaquero system, and was an inspiration to many horsemen and cattlemen.
Ernie died peacefully in his sleep on May 5, 2021 at his ranch near Templeton, California. He was 93 years old. His final resting place is in the Veterans section of the Paso Robles District Cemetery, beside his wife Blanche.
For more information on the amazing life of Ernie Morris search YouTube for Ernie Morris Tribute – Click here
Adiós Amigo
~ The following postscript was added by Ralph Pavey ~
I have had a special closeness to Ernie since I was a small child. He and my mother, Blanche, were married the year following the untimely death of my father. Since that time I have known Ernie as “Dad”. We have spent countless hours together training horses, branding calves & doctoring cattle, holding our own private horsemanship competitions, agonizing over livestock losses, discussing the meaning of life, both cussing and praising the actions of government, and all of the other things that are a typical part of ranch life. Throughout this time we have had a special bond that has been as good as any father and son relationship could ever be. He has stood firm in his principles of hard work and honesty, and he has maintained an unending sense of humor. He is truly a remarkable man to me, and I am proud that he is my best friend and my Dad.
~ The following poem was added with permission from the author ~ by John Greber, Jr.
(1973 – 2018) RIP John, you were truly “One Of The Best!”
One Of The Best
I was lucky enough in my life
to meet and visit with one of the best.
A man that stands out through his many achievements,
well above the rest.
He learned from older men who knew
the art of vaquero trade.
Through their teachings,
another great vaquero was made.
He learned how to start a colt
and take him from Jaquima to Freno,
a velvet mounted wonder.
While many other men would sit around and ponder.
Could this be done?
Could a man with this ability be real?
To know all the aspects of horses
timing and feel.
The slightest whisper of the reins could make the horse slide,
stop or spin with the greatest of ease.
The type of pony a puncher
would be proud to have between his knees.
With a ninety foot riata in hand,
he demonstrated his skills at the vaquero show.
He would build a big California loop,
then with a couple of smooth swings,
he’d make a perfect throw.
Though his talents do not stop there,
they are only just the start.
He is a master of many,
types of art.
From several types of rawhide work
and bronzes to pen and ink, and carvings in wood.
With all of his finished products
being incredibly good.
Though through all of his great achievements
that you could hang on the wall.
Ernie Morris is one of the nicest and generous men that I’ve ever met,
who took his time to help me with a question,
and to me that’s the greatest achievement of all.
~ The following poem was added with permission from the author ~ by Tony Johnston
Ernest Morris, Vaquero
His granddaddy once lived the life
And a string of men before him
From Mexico and far-off Spain.
They passed it on, like breathing.
How to sit a caballo ramrod straight.
How to make it move, like water.
How to work the reins with a feather-touch
While you stalked a mean cow-critter.
His hands are hard as Hereford horns
From braiding his reattas,
An art bequeathed from man to man
Since the first conquistadores.
He can name the names of old-timers
And tell you what they taught him.
He can name the names of long-dead mounts,
Like a heavenly remuda.
The old vaquero. He has lived the life,
Harsh–and blessed as freedom.
Now he sits his horse and views the hills
While history whispers through him.
About Ernie Morris