CHARLES JUNIOR MORGAN

Obituary for Charles J. Morgan Charles Junior Morgan, 90 passed away on Thursday November 19, 2022 in Shawnee, Oklahoma at St. Anthony’s Hospital. He was surrounded by his immediate family as he transitioned to be with his heavenly family peacefully and without pain.

Chuck was preceded in death by his two sons, Jeffrey Allan Morgan age 63 and Charles Jay “Little Jay” Morgan age 55, his mother Vera Ladd Morgan and father Alex Morgan, as well as all 7 of his siblings. Chuck was born in Calvin, Oklahoma on October 8, 1932 to Vera Ladd, he was adopted at 9 months old by the only father he ever knew, Alex Morgan. He stayed in Calvin helping his mom take care of his siblings until she passed away at an early age from Tuberculosis. Chuck then joined the Army and went off to Korea. After returning, he hitchhiked to California and started his life there. He was married first to Leona Walstrom Morgan, Second to Lorena “Ginger” Evans Morgan, third to Maureen Donnelly Morgan and fourth to Gloria Morgan. Chuck had one son with Leona, Jeffrey A. Morgan and three children with Ginger, Jay Morgan, Marci Morgan and Staci Morgan.

He is survived by his two daughters, Marci Morgan (Shane) and Staci Morgan. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren in order of oldest first, Kelisha Evans (Chris O’Dell), Joshua Pyle (Shannan Pyle), Dan’l Morgan, Nicholas Domenick, Lindsey Morgan Psefteas (Thomas), Lauren Pinkston, Michael Morgan and Karli Morgan (Kyle Hernandez)

He was fortunate enough to have eight Great Grandchildren as well, Elias Tate, Kelia Wickert, Evan O’Dell, Danielle Wickert, Jamison O’Dell, (Kelisha and Chris) Leonidas Psefteas, Lilly Psefteas (Lindsey and Thomas) and Ava Morgan Hernandez (Karli and Kyle).

Chuck spent many years living in California and Nevada before returning back home to Oklahoma where he lived on and off for the past 17 years. Early in life he moved our family from Northern California, (Eureka area) to San Diego. He was self-employed owning his own Construction business in San Diego. He and my uncles worked many sites in San Diego including Jack Murphy Stadium. He eventually sold the business and we moved back to Holdenville, OK where he and my mom bought and ran a local corner gas station. We lived on 32 acres (just off old Rte 4) full of fishing ponds, swimming streams, trees to climb and trails to ride our horses on. Some of our best childhood memories are from that time. He and mom divorced and we moved back to California while dad moved to Vegas. Eventually, he came back to California and bought a used car lot at one point in Lakeside, CA. Moving North, he and Maureen owned and operated the Morgan Creek Saloon and The Alibi in Marysville, California The Saloon was a bar with live bands and The Alibi was a bar and a Poker room. When he lived in Nevada he was known to play Poker for a living and also worked as the Poker Room manager for the Las Vegas Club and other casinos in town. He became a Realtor for Money World in the mid 1980’s in Las Vegas.

He was passionate about everything in life…all the good he saw and all the wrong as well. He loved a good debate with anyone willing to discuss hard topics as well as a great conversation about kids and dogs. Many people say he had the gift of gab…he could meet and talk to anyone and know a summary of their life story in minutes. He met his last wife Gloria at a Burger King while they were having breakfast separately. He told her she looked like she could use some company and they had breakfast together every morning after that day, eventually leading to their wedding!

He injured his knee two years ago and lost his fast paced walking ability. He never gave up hope they would replace his knee and was due for surgery…but he started getting sick in September a few weeks prior to surgery. 3 His goal was to live to 100 as long as he was healthy and happy. We were planning a road trip up the Coast to Eureka in summer of 2023. It seems the universe had other plans.

He made it to 90 years young only experiencing really tough health issues the last few months. He was alert and witty up to his last conversation. His COPD and diabetes got the best of him. He would tell anyone he loved to QUIT SMOKING now. He quit on Valentines day of 1973 and never picked up another cigarette. He said, “I just decided it was the dumbest thing I was doing and couldn’t answer why” so, he threw his pack out the window driving down I8 in Mission Valley, CA. Somewhere, buried in the dirt is a full pack of Pall Mall reds with no filter. Working in the smoke filled casino’s continued to do damage to his lungs that led to the COPD that took him.

He leaves behind grateful children and grandchildren for his philosophy and consistency, to always believe you can do what you set your mind to. He always told us, “You have the same or better advantage in life as the person next to you, no matter your circumstances”. Decide you’re going to do something and don’t stop until it’s done and no matter what NEVER give up, where there is life there is hope!

We love you Dad/Grandpa and will see you on the other side. 

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