"I watched Mike grow into a wonderful young man," said former Sheriff Dave Tucker, under whom Phil Morris was chief deputy. "He represented our department with honor and dignity."

Tucker said he and his wife, Denise, were in Myrtle Beach, S.C., when they learned of Morris' death. They are returning to West Virginia to attend services.

"We want to extend our thoughts and condolences to Phil and Liz [Morris' parents]," Tucker said. "No parent should have to go through this."

Phil Morris said his son left his parents' house about 11:30 p.m. Saturday to pick up his girlfriend and head home. "He was in real, real good spirits," Phil Morris said.

Something happened after Mike Morris got home, his father said. Family members still aren't sure what.

"Thirty-one years old is such a tragedy," his father said.

Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, is in charge of arrangements.

To contact staff writer Rusty Marks, use e-mail or call 348-1215.

Friends and family were in shock Monday following the sudden death of Kanawha County Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Morris.

Morris, 31, died unexpectedly at his home early Sunday, said Lt. Bryan Stover of the Sheriff's Department. "The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department is in deep regret to announce the passing of one of our officers," Stover said.

The body has been sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

Morris, who had been working half-days because of an on-the-job injury, was looking forward to returning to work full time, said his father, former Chief Deputy Phil Morris.

"He'd been working out up at CAMC sports medicine daily for the last four weeks," the elder Morris said Monday. He said Mike Morris was expected to return to full duty in about two weeks.

Phil Morris said his son - an only child - grew up around law enforcement and loved working for the Sheriff's Department. Morris' grandfather, Lawrence Morris, was a former police chief for the city of Charleston. He said Mike Morris worked about six years for the Charleston Police Department before going to work for the Sheriff's Department.

"He was around a lot of police officers. He grew up in it and he just loved it."

Mike Morris' grandfather, father and an uncle all were police officers, Phil Morris said.

Stover said Mike Morris joined the department in 1999, where he worked mainly on the road patrol.

"I watched Mike grow into a wonderful young man," said former Sheriff Dave Tucker, under whom Phil Morris was chief deputy. "He represented our department with honor and dignity."

Tucker said he and his wife, Denise, were in Myrtle Beach, S.C., when they learned of Morris' death. They are returning to West Virginia to attend services.

"We want to extend our thoughts and condolences to Phil and Liz [Morris' parents]," Tucker said. "No parent should have to go through this."

Phil Morris said his son left his parents' house about 11:30 p.m. Saturday to pick up his girlfriend and head home. "He was in real, real good spirits," Phil Morris said.

Something happened after Mike Morris got home, his father said. Family members still aren't sure what.

"Thirty-one years old is such a tragedy," his father said.

Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, is in charge of arrangements.

To contact staff writer Rusty Marks, use e-mail or call 348-1215.