01/28/2026
Renae “Ren” Ruth Wilson (née Morris) was born on October 22, 1955, and made her home in Branson, Missouri from 2000 onward, after many years in Berthoud, Colorado. She shared 39 years of marriage with her husband, Michael Mark Wilson, celebrating their most recent anniversary on November 8, 2025.
EARLY LIFE
From childhood onward, Ren was marked by an exceptional creativity and an endlessly inquisitive mind. She was the kind of girl who was always reading—curled up with books, exploring new ideas, and following her curiosity wherever it led. Her sister Shellie remembers how Ren devoured stories, especially science fiction, long before it was fashionable for young women to do so. She read the great masters—Clarke, Heinlein, Asimov—and those early worlds of imagination shaped her sense of possibility, wonder, and intellectual independence.
Years later, when she met Michael, this shared love of science fiction became one of the first sparks between them. Both had grown up reading the same authors, the same sweeping visions of the future, and the recognition of that common ground formed an early bond that would deepen into a lifelong partnership.
Ren was also gifted with a beautiful singing voice, something Shellie remembers with particular fondness. She sang throughout high school, where choir became one of her most joyful outlets. Music remained a thread in her life well into adulthood; during the early years of her marriage, she sang with a community choir in Longmont, Colorado, bringing the same devotion and heart to music that she brought to every other part of her life.
Shellie also remembers Ren’s vivid imagination and creative spirit as a child. She was always drawing, writing, inventing strange meals in the kitchen, and dreaming up adventures for the two of them to share. One of Shellie’s favorite memories is the carnival they created together for the neighborhood—an elaborate, joyful production that only Ren could have imagined and brought to life.
Ren’s lifelong relationship with food began in those early years. She was constantly experimenting in the kitchen, mixing ingredients, trying new combinations, and discovering how flavors worked together. Long before Ayurveda gave her a formal framework for understanding nourishment, she was already exploring food as a creative and intuitive act.
Ren’s gifts extended far beyond her curiosity and imagination. She had exceptional artistic talent—her pencil sketches of horses were especially loved—and she carried a refined sense of beauty into every part of her life. She appreciated the finer things, had an elegant sense of fashion, and elevated every environment she entered. Ren loved people deeply and naturally, often falling into long, meaningful conversations with strangers. She “adopted strays,” both animals and people, welcoming dogs and cats into her home and offering counsel, comfort, and steady presence to those who were lost or struggling. Her mind was brilliant and endlessly hungry; she was interested in so much—history, science, mysticism, nutrition, and the stories of the people around her. She knew how to have a good time, was an avid learner, and later became drawn to spiritualism and deeper forms of inner exploration. These qualities—her warmth, her insight, her generosity of spirit—were woven into her from the beginning.
Music remained another shared language between the sisters. In later years, Shellie and Ren would text songs back and forth—“listen to this version”—and sit on the porch playing their game of name that artist. These simple moments became some of Shellie’s most cherished memories. Of all the things Ren taught her, one lesson stayed with her more than any other: “What you have to say is important. Speak it. Ask the questions.” Shellie writes, “I was blessed to spend my life with her. You are safe. You are secure. You are loved.”
After graduating from Westminster High School in 1972, Ren spent several years working at Tim’s Meat Market, where her strong work ethic and natural curiosity made her a valued part of the small community around her. Not long afterward, she moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where she lived for a year before eventually relocating to Irvine, California to live with her aunt, Beverly Iacobellis. She spent her twenties there, building her independence and beginning the next chapter of her life. During those years, she worked proudly in the finance department at Western Digital Corporation, performing forensic bookkeeping for the CFO—a role she often spoke of with pride.
In her late twenties, Ren moved to Colorado with her one‑year‑old son, Matthew David, beginning the chapter of her life that would eventually lead her to meet Michael and build the family and home that defined the decades to come.
The same curiosity, creativity, and fierce sense of care that shaped Ren from childhood became the foundation of the way she loved her family. Her deepest purpose emerged in the relationships she built with her children, each of whom she nurtured with devotion, insight, and unwavering presence.
FAMILY AND LOVED ONES
Ren welcomed her first child, Matthew, while living in California, and later moved to Colorado, where she met Michael when Matt was just a year old. From the beginning, music was part of their bond. Ren loved the guitar, and she often told the story of how she played for Matt throughout her pregnancy—how he seemed to respond even before he entered the world. That early connection stayed with him. Matthew grew into a kind‑hearted young man with a brilliant, sensitive mind—so much like his mother. He was intelligent, artistic, gifted with the guitar, and expressive in ways that reflected Ren’s own creative spirit. He loved the outdoors, cherished his community, and was deeply valued by his friends. His passing left a profound impact on his closest loved ones and on the many lives he touched with his gentle presence and quiet brilliance.
Ian, her steadfast protector from the time he was young, carried that devotion into adulthood. In the final years of her illness, he became her primary caretaker, offering constant presence, strength, and often biting humor—the language through which the two of them most naturally connected. Their bond was marked by an ease and playfulness that brought light into even the most difficult days.
Sean became Ren’s devoted confidant and mutual counselor. Mother and daughter guided one another through the trials and complexities of life, sharing wisdom, honesty, and emotional courage. Sean often joked that she was “Renae’s home‑grown clone,” carrying forward so many of her mother’s qualities — her perceptiveness, her emotional courage, her humor, and her instinct to care for others. Sean devoted significant portions of her adult life to caring for and supporting the Wilson family, all while following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents in the entertainment industry.
Ren was profoundly proud of Matt, Ian and Sean, and the love they shared with her was one of the great sustaining forces of her life.
AYURVEDA: THE CENTER OF HER LIFE’S WORK
Ayurveda was not simply a field of study for Ren—it was the organizing principle of her life. Rooted in a 5,000‑year‑old tradition from India, Ayurveda teaches that health arises from balance: between body and mind, between daily habits and natural rhythms, between nourishment, rest, movement, and emotional clarity. Ren embraced this philosophy with rare devotion. She believed deeply that healing begins long before illness appears, in the choices one makes every day—what to eat, how to breathe, how to sleep, how to live in harmony with one’s own nature.
Her formal training took place under Bharat Vaidya and Anupama Vaidya at Ayurved Sadhana in Colorado, where she immersed herself in classical Ayurvedic texts, diagnostic methods, herbal formulations, and lifestyle therapies. She earned her credentials as an Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner and became a recognized member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.
Dr. Bharat often joked that “Renae is my oldest student,” a line delivered with unmistakable fondness. It carried a double meaning—she was older than many of his other students, and she was also one of the school’s earliest pupils, remaining connected to Ayurved Sadhana from its beginnings through the present day. The joke became a term of endearment, a recognition of her loyalty, her longevity in the tradition, and the respect she earned through years of disciplined study.
Ren amassed a remarkable personal library of Ayurvedic texts, commentaries, and reference materials, many of them rare or difficult to find. She studied Sanskrit so she could read foundational teachings in their original form. Her studies eventually led her to Jyotish, the traditional system of Vedic astrology, which she approached not as prediction but as insight—a way to understand one’s strengths, challenges, and purpose.
For more than two decades, Ren also served as a dedicated representative of Young Living Essential Oils, sharing her belief in the restorative power of natural plant essences. Fourteen years ago, she founded her own consulting practice, Rede for Health, a heartfelt effort to guide others toward balanced living.
Ayurveda was her life’s study, her passion, and her gift to others. It shaped the way she lived, the way she healed, and the way she loved.
HEALTH, RESILIENCE, AND HER CALLING TO WELLNESS
Ren survived indolent neuroendocrine tumors and lived with half a pancreas after a Whipple procedure in 1999. Her disciplined lifestyle, devotion to Ayurvedic practice, and commitment to wellness allowed her to live another twenty‑five years with purpose and grace. Her journey through illness became the foundation of her calling to help others find balance and wellbeing.
A GLOBAL CIRCLE OF FRIENDSHIP
Ren formed deep friendships across the world through her travels with Michael. Wherever she went—Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, Zambia, India, and beyond—she shared her insights into wellness and balanced living. Her warmth, curiosity, and generosity created connections that crossed cultures and continents.
In 2016, Ren joined an IEEE volunteer delegation on a demanding expedition to the remote Lingshed Monastery high in the Indian Himalayas, where the team installed solar‑powered lighting for the monks and surrounding community. The journey was documented by National Geographic in Power to the People, where Ren appears throughout the expedition. She was also featured in IEEE Spectrum magazine, reflecting her commitment to humanitarian energy work and her willingness to serve in challenging environments.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY LIFE, AND SHARED WORK
Ren met Michael in Colorado in the mid‑1980s, shortly after moving from California. The two married later that same year, beginning a partnership that would last nearly four decades.
She was known for her strong personality, always ready with advice and guidance for those she loved. After marrying Michael, she stepped into the world of his entertainment company—first Pacific Attractions International, then International Special Attractions (ISA). Though she later stepped back from daily operations, she remained a steady source of advisory support while raising three children during Michael’s extensive travel across the U.S. and China.
After Michael sold ISA in 2010 and shifted into philanthropic work across Sub‑Saharan Africa and India, Ren continued to stand beside him. When he joined the IEEE, she became a familiar presence at conferences and events, offering her warmth, insight, and Ayurvedic wisdom to volunteers and partners around the world.
HOME AND THE BEAUTY SHE CREATED
Her home was curated with an eclectic collection of artifacts gathered from travels across China, Africa, and India. Every piece carried a story, creating a living tapestry of the places she loved and the people she met.
But nowhere was Ren’s spirit more present than in her kitchen. When Mike remodeled it, she shaped the space into far more than a place to cook—it became a working repository for the specialized ingredients of her Ayurvedic training and a platform she hoped to use one day for teaching, demonstrations, and cooking classes.
Ayurvedic food preparation is its own form of healing, with dishes like mung beans and kitchari relying on precise blends of spices and seasonings to enhance their therapeutic qualities. Her pantry—triple the size of a typical home—overflowed with the broad spectrum of Indian healing powders, herbs, and spices she used daily. Every jar, every packet, every carefully labeled container reflected her belief that food was medicine and that the kitchen was a sacred space for nurturing health.
Because of this, Ren and Mike rarely ate out. Nearly every meal was prepared from scratch, crafted with intention, knowledge, and love. Their kitchen was not just a room—it was the heart of their home.
FAMILY MEMBERS
Parents: Philip and Jolene Morris, both deceased
Brother: Michael Raymond Morris
Sister: Shellie Anne Moris
Son: Ian Powers Morris Wilson
Daughter: Sean Michelle Wilson
Son in Law: Mohamed Jtaoue
Grandchildren: None
SERVICE INFORMATION & MEMORIAL
Festive additions for display at the service may be sent to
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home
421 W. 4th St.
North Platte, NE 69101
Must be received before 3:00 PM Monday, January 20, 2024.
Renae
“Oh, your Renae’s brother?”
I’d say, “It’s True.”
Brains, talent, and beauty
what a fortunate brother are you.
Forever testing
the boundaries of Love.
And brought to an end
you’d give it a shove.
But then, love isn’t love
Unless tested, that’s true.
And when it’s been shoved
For the record, “Thank you.”
Always a whirlwind
wherever you went.
From the day you were born,
till your years were all spent.
We love you Renae
Mike & Shellie
