Willie Durward “Bill” Morgan

Willie Durward “Bill” Morgan, 90, of Orange died, Friday, February 01, 2008 at the Meadows Nursing Home in Orange.

Visitation for friends and family will be held Saturday, February 2 from 4-8 p.m. at the Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, February 3, 2008 at 2 p.m. followed by interment at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.

Bill was born on March 13, 1917 to Thomas and Olive Morgan on a farm outside of Roganville, Texas.

He lived there with his family until 1935 when he entered the Citizens Conservation Corp near Milam, TX at the age of 18.

He later worked as a logger until joining the Navy in 1942.

He served in the Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he met and married his wife, Helen in 1944.

They moved to Orange in 1945 where he worked for Consolidated Steel, later known as American Bridge.

Bill was hired among the original group of men that began the Orange Navy Base Fire Department around 1946.

He served with that fire department for over 30 years.

He was promoted to Fire Chief and retired in that position in December 1975, on the day the Orange Navy Base was officially closed.

Bill was also a master barber and co-owner of the Lutcher Drive and East Town Barber Shop in the late 60’s with Bob Davis.

He enjoyed working in his garden, growing roses, bird hunting, watching baseball games, and spending time with his family.

Bill’s life always reflected his love for God, his family, and his country.

Bill was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Orange, where he was first invited by Mr. Eddie Barker. Later he served as youth Sunday School teacher for many years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge Madison 126 of Orange for over 50 years.

He is preceded in death by his brother, Amidee Morgan, and his oldest son, Michael Morgan.

He is survived by his wife of over 63 years, Helen Klafka Morgan, his children, Patricia Ojoboro of Houston, Margaret Funderburk and husband, Terry, of Denver, CO, and son, Willie Morgan, and wife, Marjorie, of Orange; grandchildren, David, Emmanual, Jr., and Theresa Ojoboro, Tommy Morgan, Lonnie Condon, Leslie Burkis, Dale Funderburk, Chrissy Babcock, Tammy Garmon, and Lorie Everitt; and seven great-grandchildren; sister, Elna Gattis of Houston and brother Lee Julian Morgan and wife Lois of Lumberton, and sister-in-law Lillian Morgan of Nederland.

Serving as pallbearers will be Milton Babcock, Jeff Garmon, Jason Everitt, Tommy Morgan, David Ojoboro, and Emmanual Ojoboro, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Justin and Jordan Babcock.