Benjamin Morgan

Benjamin “Benny” Coleen Morgan, 86, of Abbott passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2015, in a Waco hospital. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015, at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro with his grandson, Rev. Billy Schulz, of Concord Baptist Church in Bellmead officiating. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 22, 2015, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.

Benny was born on February 22, 1929 in Abbott to Benjamin Clifford and Blanche (Bruce) Morgan. He attended schools in Abbott and immediately after graduating from Abbott High School in 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 17. Even as a teenager, Benny was eager to see the world and knew his path was a career in the military. He would proudly serve his country for the next 22 years.

On July 29, 1950, he married Maurine Sessums in Hillsboro. Soon after, they would expand their family to three daughters and two sons. As committed as he was to serving his country, he was even more so a loyal husband and loving father. He always watched over his family as they coped with the challenges of military life while serving in Alaska, Arizona, Japan, France, Germany and several locations in Texas. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force in October of 1969, he returned to his hometown, Abbott, TX. Here, is where they would choose to live for the remainder of their lives.

Among his other employment, Benny once again found his place to serve our government and worked for the U.S. Postal Service until retiring in 1986. As everyone in Abbott knows, he loved to stay active - walking at least three miles every day, rain or shine. And if you didn’t see him outside, there was a good chance he was working on one of his vintage cars. Benny had an extensive knowledge and love of old cars, and found the Sunday funny papers to be the most genuine section of the newspaper. He also enjoyed sharing a beer with his friends and a laugh or two.

He was completely devoted to his wife, taking care of her faithfully during her illness. For 11 years, he participated in the Alzheimer’s walk in Waco in her honor. And without fail, he would visit her grave every week. Benny will be remembered by his friends and family as someone who consistently sacrificed for the needs of others. He was fiercely loyal and extremely hard-working; two traits that make the best of man. Simply put, he was truly one of a kind.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Maurine Morgan on February 24, 2005; son, Benjamin Morgan; four brothers, Billy, Wendell, Earl Glen, and Donald Morgan; sister, Margie Smith; and grandson, Morgan Bullard.

Survivors include his children, Patricia Jean Bullard of Waco, David Earl Morgan and wife, Cathy, of Whitney, Beverly Ann Cantwell and husband, Mike, of Waco, Brenda Schulz and husband, Keith Basye, of Itasca, and Billy Charles Morgan of Whitney; two sisters, Pauline Etter and husband, Livy, and Mary Mae Russell and husband, Morris, all of Abbott; brother-in-law, Welton Sessums of Longview; two sisters-in-law, Ella Morgan of West and Willie Loyce Morgan of Hillsboro; 16 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6605 Sanger Ave. Suite 1, Waco, TX 76710.

Visitation

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ,Thursday, October 22, 2015
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Graveside Service

2:00 PM ,Friday, October 23, 2015
Hillcrest Garden of Memory
3838 State Highway 22 Hillsboro, TX 76645