EUGENE J. ‘GENE’ MORGAN, 72, a longtime Skagit County resident, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon.
He was born on November 28, 1933 in Sylva, North Carolina, the son of David & Elsie Phillips Morgan. As an infant he moved with his family to the Sedro-Woolley area where he was raised and attended school, graduating from Sedro-Woolley High School with the class of 1951. Shortly there after he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving his country during the Korean Conflict.
In 1955 he was united in marriage to Audrey DaSilva in Seattle and together they made their home in Edmonds where they started their family and Gene began a long career as a finish carpenter.
In 1964 they moved to Big Lake and Gene began working for Joe Souza Home Building, where he was a finish carpenter for 20 years. After retiring from carpentry work he worked in building maintenance and retired as the maintenance supervisor at the Cotton Tree Inn in Mount Vernon after several years.
On January 1, 1989 he married Judi Lightner and they have made their home in Mount Vernon.
Gene was a very talented and artistic wood master craftsman.
He loved watching football and baseball and coaching Little League. He was coach for the Big Lake Little League team for 8 years; he was an avid softball player, and also enjoyed bowling, golf, playing cards and fishing for cutthroat trout on the Skagit River.
He is survived by his wife, Judi at the family home in Mount Vernon. His daughter and her husband, Jeannine & Tony Modaffari of Big Lake, AK. His 3 sons and their wives, Landy & Barb Morgan and Marland & Bernie Morgan of Sedro-Woolley and Clayton & Michelle Morgan of Big Lake, WA. 3 step-children, Jenny Modafarri of Bellingham, Sheri Dunham of Chicago, IL and Tom Lightner and his wife, April of Mount Vernon. 1 brother, Brady Morgan and his wife, Loni of Mesa, AZ and a sister, Yvonne Coolley and her husband, Mick of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 11 grandchildren, Skyler, Tinisha, Elizabeth, Amy, Benjamin, Daniel, Seth, Dustin, Trent, Morgan & Chelsea; 2 great-grandchildren, Mason & Lucas; numerous nieces and nephews and his card playing buddies.
He was preceded in death by his parents, David & Elsie, 1 brother, Clifford and a sister, Bessie Lee Jordan.
Graveside Inurnment services will be held at the Lyman Cemetery on Tuesday February 21, 2006 at 1:00 PM.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.