Dr. Morris Sheats, beloved husband, father, grandfather, pastor, teacher, mentor, musician, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, surrounded by his family. He lived a lifetime devoted to God, his family, and people.

Dr. Sheats began preaching at just sixteen years old, launching what would become 70 years of ministry and a life of extraordinary influence. Even at that young age, he was already a leader. During his school years he served as president of the student body and developed his lifelong love of music. He played the cello, accordion, piano, organ, and viola, sang in the choir, and was a talented singer.

Dr. Sheats earned his B.A. from Texas Tech University and his M.Div. and D.Min. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He authored five books: You Can Be Emotionally Healed, You Can Have a Happy Family, Courage to Lead, Building Better Churches, and Building Blocks That Matter.

In 1964, Dr. Sheats founded Trinity Church in Lubbock, Texas, where he served as Senior Pastor until 1978. Under his leadership, Trinity grew from 100 people to more than 4,000 and remains a thriving church today.

From 1978 to 1980, he served as Senior Pastor of Beverly Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, with more than 6,000 members.

In 1980, he founded Leadership Institute, transforming his passion for developing leaders into a worldwide ministry and mission. He trained tens of thousands of pastors and church leaders throughout the United States and in 50 countries, with a special passion for encouraging and equipping young pastors in developing countries.

In 1984, Dr. Sheats founded Hillcrest Church in Dallas with just 25 people. By the time he retired in 2003, the church had grown to more than 5,000 members and attendees. Trinity and Hillcrest became two churches he built from the ground up into megachurches—an extraordinary accomplishment.

In 2006, he founded his final church, Heritage Church of Dallas.

But numbers never told the real story of Morris Sheats. He truly cared about people. He had an extraordinary ability to make people feel seen, known, and remembered. He rarely forgot a name and almost never forgot a story. Whether he had known someone for decades or had just met them, he remembered what mattered to them. People mattered to him.

Mo knew how to have fun. To his family, he was often simply Mo or Big Daddy - the guy who was spontaneous, adventurous, and always ready to make a memory. He loved an adventure, especially when it involved his family and grandkids. He loved to laugh, loved being together, and never needed much of an excuse to turn an ordinary day into something special.

Dr. Sheats is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda; his bonus daughter, Haley Valdez, and her husband, JD Valdez; and his children from his marriage to Janet Yost Sheats, Shanda Sheats Stiles of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Morris Sheats II and his wife, Patricia Sheats, of Fort Worth. He is also survived by his grandsons, William Morris and his wife, Talia; Clark Edward and his wife, Hannah; and Patrick Thomas and his wife, Mia, all of Fort Worth.

His greatest legacy is found not in buildings, attendance numbers, or accomplishments, but in people. He remembered them. He believed in them. He challenged them. He encouraged them. And he loved them.

From the time he preached his first sermon at sixteen until the end of his life, Morris Sheats lived with purpose, faith, joy, conviction, adventure, and an extraordinary capacity to love.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Trinity Church, 7002 Canton Avenue in Lubbock, Texas, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lubbock Dream Center, 1111 30th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79411 or https://cotrlubbock.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/9b1139f8-7e26-43a8-a036-0e9da059e11c