Yes, I was also a Morgan

I always get those strange looks when I tell people that I was a Morgan as well. Luckily thru the research I’ve done that goes back about 5 generations we are not related. My husband did enjoy going to my Morgan family reunion when we were first married and joking around. People would see his name tag and ask who his parents and grandparents were and when he would answer they would just kind of give him a blank stare. He finally would let them know who he was!

My great grandmother was Helen Lora Morgan, born in 1905 to EP “Ted” Morgan & Mary Jane Anderson.

Last week, as my family got together on what would have been my parents 50th Anniversary, my mom got out pictures of my great grandparents 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

Helen Morgan married Lewis “Garner” Smith June 2, 1923 in Joplin, Mo. Garner born in 1903 and was the son of James Zachariah Smith and Sallie Oldham.

Helen Lora Morgan & Lewis “Garner” Smith wedding pic

Going thru those old pictures brought back a flood of memories. I was incredibly blessed to have them in my life longer than most. Grandpa Smith passed in 1989 when I was in high school and grandma passed in 1992, shortly after I was married. As a child I can remember

• going down to pick strawberries
•  going to the garage and listening to records on grandpa smith’s old player and the smell in there—it was a distinct smell that I loved
• grandpa Smith’s favorite joke—What’s the difference between a hill and a pill? One goes up and the other goes down.
• the famous CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! Grandma would always bring out a container of cookies from the freezer and a can of Dr Pepper. They were the absolute best and one of my favorite memories of them!!

I can remember going down to visit after grandpa Smith had passed and her saying ‘He never told me he was going first and leave me here’ and she wasn’t saying it jokingly. She was serious and it broke my heart. They had been married 65 years when grandpa passed away. I was engaged at the time and remember thinking I hope I can have that kind of love. 

Grandma Smith came to my wedding and it was funny because I was told as my dad walked me down the isle you could hear my grandma Smith say ‘well there’s Larry. I was wondering where he was’ Just thinking about that brings a smile to my face every time. She passed away a few months later and as sad as it was, I know she was united with her love.

I wasn’t able to make it to her sale, but my husband was. He surprised me with their player piano I so fondly remember them sitting at. Something I pray will stay in my family for many generations.