John Earl Morgan 1916-1985

John Earl Morgan was born February 20, 1916 and died February 20, 1985 on his 69th birthday. Earl, as he was known locally, was the first born son of Tom and Addie Sailing Morgan and spent his early childhood growing up on Pulaski County Farms.

While Earl was still a boy his family moved into the town of Waynesville. His good disposition and lively personality must have been evident even then because, years later, Lulu Christeson recalled that he was “the cutest little boy I ever gave piano lessons to.”

Earl graduated from Waynesville High School in 1933. The Navy appealed to him but his parents wouldn’t give him permission for him to enlist so he spent the next four years working for Springfield Wholesale Grocery Company.

In 1937 the lure of the sea won out and Earl signed up for a career in the Navy. He rapidly worked his way upward through the ranks, becoming Chief Petty Officer at an unusually young age. Spending much of his time aboard ships, he saw combat in the South Pacific in World War II and was also involved in the Korean Conflict. Earl loved Navy life and had many tales to tell of his adventures during those years.

Earl met Bernice “Bea” Gobble (pronounced Gobel) in San Diego and they were married in 1954. Three years later he completed 20 years of service and retired.

He then started a second career working as an assistant manager for a wholesale grocery business in California and stayed with the company for 18 years until poor health forced him to quit. In 1975 he and Bea moved to Waynesville because, as Earl said to Bea, “I was born in Missouri and I want to die there.”

Earl maintained his zest for life during these last ten years in Waynesville. He enjoyed helping out at the Morgan farm, telling stories, tramping through the woods with a good friend, cooking and baking, and carefully tending the garden he put in nearly every year. Despite failing health, he never failed to bring smiles and good spirits to his friends and neighbors.

“Old sailors never die, they just sail away.”

John Earl Morgan has sailed away and we shall miss him.

John earl Morgan is survived by his wife, Bernice of the home; one brother Lyle Morgan of St. Louis, Missouri; two uncles, Joe N. Morgan and Claude H. Morgan both of Waynesville, Missouri and many cousins.

Funeral services for John Earl Morgan were held Saturday, February 23, 1985 at 1:00 p.m. in the Waynesville Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Norman Sanders and the Worshipful Master Marty Humphreys officiating.

Music was provided by organist Julie Morgan.

Escorts were: Charles Collins, Bobby Crawford, George Lane, Robert Sutton, Sal Zarcone, and Edward Zielonka.

Burial with full Military Honors were held Monday, February 25, 1985 at 2:00 p.m. in the Morgan Family Cemetery under the direction of the Waynesville Memorial Funeral Chapel.