Rogers Maurice Morgan
Mar 31, 1933 - Jul 30, 2008
Posted by Martha Reddout

© Marietta Monitor
8Aug 2008, Page 4

Interment was in the Morgan Rest Cemetery.

Born March 31, 1933, in Cheek, the son of Erskin Davenport and Clara Shaw Morgan, he died Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at his Simon residence. Mr. Morgan was reared at Simon, attending school at Simon and Orr. He later attended high school at Meadowbrook, where he was an All-State basketball player and was part of the team that won the State Basketball Championships his junior and senior years. He first attended college at Cameron Junior College in Lawton and later, on a basketball scholarship, he attended Midwestern State College in Wichita Falls, Texas. There he was a member of the basketball team four years and received his bachelor of arts degree. Mr. Morgan later received his master’s degree from East Texas State in Commerce, Texas. Adding to his achievements in the sport of basketball, Mr. Morgan played one year of semipro basketball. He and Katherine F. Jackson were married July 18, 1953 at Ardmore. The couple had recently celebrated 55 years of marriage together, as Rogers would say, “55 years of marriage to my Wonder Woman.” Mr. Morgan was a teacher and a coach for the boys and girls high school basketball teams at Antelope, Texas for two years. He was also a high school basketball coach at Lockett, Texas for three years before serving as the principal at Lockett Grade School for eight years. He also taught and coached at Ryan for two years before moving to Vernon, Texas in 1969. There he coached the high school boys basketball team for two years, served as vice principal at the Intermediate School, and principal at Shive Elementary for 20 years.  Mr. Morgan returned to Simon to live at his family’s farm in 1995, where he loved to farm and loved his cattle. He spent hours in the pasture tending to the farm and cattle. Mr. Morgan also loved finding time to fish. He had a very devout love for his family and students. Mr. Morgan was always outgoing, loving to visit with his family, friends and even strangers. He was a very kind and generous man with a terrific sense of humor and loved everyone he knew. Mr. Morgan had been attending Cheek Baptist Church, where he rededicated his life to Christ just six months ago.

Survivors include his loving wife “Kat” of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ricky Lynn and Beverly Morgan of Allen, Texas, and Michael Glenn and Jenny Morgan of Spring, Texas; four grandchildren, John-Henry, Mary Glenn, Emily Clair and Jed Avery; two sisters and brother-in-law, Patricia and Cal Hall of Maysville, Kentucky and Carolyn Martin of Mexia, Texas; a brother and sister-in-law, Jerry Dwayne and Barbara Morgan of Ardmore; a special nephew, James Caldwell of Houghton, Louisiana; good friend and fishing buddy, J.B. Jansa of Vernon, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Brenda Smith.

Pallbearers were Terral Tucker, Walter Gerald Frank, J.B. Jansa, Charles Davenport, Larry Davenport, Herbert Downes, Greg Whatley, Jeff Whatley and Donni Guy. Honorary pallbearers were Bobby Hodges, Steve Jansa, Larry Wilson, Butch Tucker, Steve Tucker, T.J. Tucker, Bobby Tucker, Clyde Nipp, Nelson Warden, Don Lamb, Johnny Haseloff, Wilbert Sanders and all former students and faculty.

Online guest book: alexanderfuneralhome.org

A photo of Mr. Morgan was included with his obituary.