Sherman Morgan

Sherman E. Morgan was born Nov. 24, 1928, in Neodesha, Kan., the first child of John and Edna Morgan. Brother Jodie came along two years later. At the end of Sherman's second school year, the family moved to Oregon, where he completed his early education by graduating from Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland in 1947. During these years, he met a Girls Polytechnic High School girl, Jessie Legg. Their main dating interest was roller skating at the Oaks Skating Rink and the Imperial Skating Rink, a result of a joint school skating club, La Golondrina, of which Sherman was president. He also was president of the Archery Club, and a member of the Minutemen Service Club. The two were married in June 1948 in Portland, moved to Philomath, and raised two daughters. Sherman's career as a hard worker and builder began as early as his middle-grade school years, and never left him until just last week. In Philomath, he was a part of the Morgan Builders, Inc., with his father, uncle and brother. His was an active life in varied ways, in community service, sports, being a helpful neighbor, traveling and working endless hours for his God. He served Philomath on the City Council, the Planning Commission and the Budget Committee. Sandwiched in there, he served 16 years as a volunteer fireman, was on the School Budget Committee and was a member of the Philomath School Board, being board chairman the last year. He played softball for Charlie's Towing and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, as well as basketball for Morgan Builders. For 40-plus years, he relished playing pinochle with special friends Norman and Barbara Chambers, as well as assorted games with the family. He and Jessie began traveling in 1975, managed to cover all 50 states and 35 countries, and had other places in mind for someday. On the first real trip out of the United States, he was at the Methodist mission in Moyamba, Sierra Leone, Africa, and saw many things a carpenter needed to do. That was in 1975, and he made two trips to the mission in the next few years, to fix up things. Sherman was an active member of the College United Methodist Church in Philomath, serving in many capacities, including keeping Sunday School records, being a trustee and head usher, as well as having the title "the Main Beater of Many Eggs" for the monthly omelet dinner at the church. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and brother. He is survived by his wife, Jessie of Philomath; daughter Sherlene and husband, Ron Watkins, of Mulberry, Ark.; daughter Donna and husband, Tim Webster; granddaughter, Stacey, and husband, James; and great-granddaughters Cambria and Katelyn Braudrick, all of Philomath. Sherman's memorial will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at College United Methodist Church in Philomath. Memorial donations in his name can be directed to the trustees of that church.

Tributes

Sherman Morgan

November 24, 1929 - December 22, 2011