Lorel June Stachnik Morris

Lori Morris passed away at home in Goose Creek on February 3 from complications of pancreatic cancer. She is the beloved daughter of Dr Thomas Stachnik of Marshall, Michigan, and Mrs. Kay Richardson Stachnik Haun of North Charleston. She was born July 24, 1962, in Lansing Michigan where her father was earning a PhD degree. Big brother Barry and younger brother Joel completed the little family. Lori attended elementary schools in Michigan and Florida before moving to Moncks Corner, SC, and graduating from Berkeley High School in 1980. Her high school years were filled with friends, band and flute playing, and earning good grades. She was always responsible and dependable, well mannered and well spoken.

Lori graduated with a BA degree from the School of Journalism at the University of South Carolina in 1984. Then began her career as a broadcasting personality at WAVE FM in Charleston, followed by 13 years at popular radio station WEZL FM as “Lori Niks.” She had always loved music, so music radio was just right.

Her unassuming friendliness endeared her to many fans, some of whom became lifelong friends. When Lori met Stephen Morris, Jr., in 2000, they fell in love and married. Stephen was a child of a large Mt Pleasant family who also fell in love with Lori. Garrett Thomas Morris, born in 2003, would be the only child of their union and Lori’s only child.

Lori and her brother Joel bought a small business in 2002, and Lori left broadcasting. The Summerville business flourished, and Garrett grew into a tall handsome young man who graduated from Ashley Ridge High School with two very hands-on but now-divorced parents for guidance and support.

Also actively present throughout Lori’s journey were her mother and father, both still living; her dear grandmothers Catherine Stachnik and Dorothy Richardson Young, both deceased; Aunt Lois Stachnik of Chicago, now deceased; uncle Jay Richardson and cousin Michael Richardson of Winter Haven FL; and her brothers Barry Stachnik of Las Vegas, NV and Joel Stachnik of Goose Creek. Companion and friend Elio Acanfora of Charleston unfortunately died in 2023, but was a source of love and comfort for many years.

Lori’s strong bond with animals was apparent to all who knew her. She and Garrett were “animal whisperers” of sorts, who brought numerous lost, wounded, and abused cats and dogs into their home and made them whole and affectionate pets.

Lori was comfortable in widely different situations like classical music concerts in Chicago’s Grant Park or at a Garth Brooks concert at our Coliseum. Her friends knew her loyalty and her capability. She was a stalwart captain who spoke to City Council about the needs of her tennis teams, and she was a diplomatic leader. She was also a caring, loyal employer and business manager.

Her long-time friends were her solid rocks and sisters from girlhood: Janice Whaley Tabor, LeeAnn Conner, Mary Hughes, Cynthia Murray, Dot Kennedy. and more pals loved her. Janice Tabor and Kristina Rettig were especially loving caregivers for Lori in her confinement at home.

AGAPE hospice of Charleston helped lift the grief of her family as they cared for their special one at home in her final days.

Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation Services in Ladson SC has received Lori’s remains. A family service will be held on a date soon to be announced on the Simplicity website, In lieu of

flowers, Lori would have appreciated your gift to the Berkeley County Animal Shelter in Moncks Corner.