Dr Charles Thomas Morgan

August 4, 1931 - January 29, 2021

Charles Thomas Morgan, M.D., died peacefully early on January 29, 2021, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with family at his side. He was 89. A graveside service will be held at Tahlequah City Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 23rd, 2021. Born in Muskogee on August 4, 1931, to Charles and Nannie Ruth Morgan, “Tommy” was the eldest child of four, followed by John, George and Katherine. Early in his life, the Morgans withstood devastation from fire, flood and a deadly tornado, which had a profound effect on the family. However, Tommy accomplished many things in his long life with strength and humility. Commanding a presence when he was in the room, his life was blessed with a list of family, friends and patients as long as he was tall, who loved and admired him. The family ended up in Tahlequah, where Tom excelled at many things. Having a “photographic” memory, his grades were always outstanding (he was valedictorian of his 1949 graduating class), basketball, football and band (first chair in the national FFA band), and in leadership as vice president of the FFA First District in 1949/50. He somehow worked this into his busy farm schedule of rising well before the sun to milk cows and do chores before going to school. After high school graduation, Tom attended OSU. The following summer, he contracted the mumps. During this illness, he became inspired to study medicine. He finished his pre-requisites at Northeastern State College, then on to medical school at the University of Oklahoma. Bonnie Curry, a neighbor whose family recently moved from Arizona, caught his eye when he was home from college for the summer wheat harvest. Tom was smitten at first sight. After a brief courtship, they were married in August of 1954. Tom graduated from OU School of Medicine in 1956, then an internship at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa and finally a residency in Lafayette, Louisiana. Tom and Bonnie returned to Tahlequah to set up his practice on Muskogee Avenue, where he spent many years delivering babies, performing surgeries, making house calls to homebound patients and serving the community close to his heart. Together, he and Bonnie would have five children together; Charlie, Jennifer, Melissa, Bill and Caren. Tom had a myriad of other interests outside medicine. He and Bonnie both obtained their pilot’s license when the kids were small, flying their young family to various destinations. He was appointed to the Board of Regents for Oklahoma Colleges during that time, serving as president of the board in 1974, often flying himself to the various colleges for meetings. Many friends and family would attend functions and weddings thereafter on the third floor of the NSC student union in the “Dr. C.T. Morgan Regents Room”, awarded for his years of service. Dr. Tom moved his medical practice in the early 1970s to Muskogee, where he was instrumental in establishing the Emergency Room at Muskogee General Hospital. In the mid-1980s, he would then also establish the Muskogee Immediate Care Clinic, followed by his own private practice in Fort Gibson in the mid 1980s. Tom and Bonnie would stay in the Muskogee/Fort Gibson area for many years, until retiring and then later returning to Tahlequah in 2011 to live and care for Bonnie, who was stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease. C.T., as he was known by many, would continue his love of farming throughout his medical career. His children would often admit they thought he was in medicine just to support his “farming habit”. While practicing in Tahlequah, he founded Midwestern Nurseries, together with his friend, Bob Berry. In the early 1970s, he and the family moved south of Tahlequah on acreage to a special home he helped design with local architect Jack Beck. The Morgan family spent many memorable years in this home, where the kids all learned to drive, rode horses and motorcycles, gardened and pursued various agricultural projects, including helping their dad plant 1,000 pecan trees on the acreage. Never allowing himself to do anything small scale, C.T. pursued his next venture building Briar Patch Farms north of Tahlequah in the late-1970s, consisting of 300 acres of blackberries and raspberries, where all the kids worked after school and in the summers for several years. His love of farming, planting and growing was a natural fit for Bonnie during their 58 years together, often having acres and acres of gardens, growing beautiful vegetables for their large family. Bonnie would then spend weeks canning and freezing for the many family dinners they would spend around the table together, enjoying the fruits of their efforts. Later in life, he went into the nursery business with his oldest son, Charles, establishing Grand River Nursery in Fort Gibson. He also had a few years of buying and refurbishing homes in the Muskogee area, where he used his aesthetic abilities and creativity, always present and longing for escape. After Bonnie’s passing, Tom became reacquainted with his high school sweetheart, Judy Ballew Hawkins. He and Judy spent his last few years sharing memories of their childhood, experiences of life and how they faced various challenges separately, and now together. Judy was a blessing for Tom during this time, and will continue to be a special member of the family. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Bonnie Caren Curry Morgan, both brothers, Dr. John Morgan and George Morgan (Vivian), niece Kathy Morgan and nephew John Morgan, brothers-in-law LaDon Dyer (Katherine), Tom Graham (Luraly), Dean Curry (Jolly), Glen Teel (Jane) and beloved daughter, Melissa Stogsdill (Trent). He is survived by his special friend and companion, Judy Hawkins, his sister, Katherine Ann Dyer, sisters-in-law Luraly Graham, Jolly Curry and Jane Teel, his children, Charles Morgan (Karen) and grandchildren, Jarrod, Kendal and Skylar (Devin); Jennifer Morgan Palmer (Tom) and grandchildren Mike Palmer, Carolyn Reabe (Nathan), Amy Mariska (Chad) and John Palmer; Trent Stogsdill and fiancé Ann Palmer and grandchildren Jonathan (Stefanie), Rebecca Bradley (Ben) and Katie Stogsdill; Bill Morgan (Heather) and grandchildren Andrew, Britton and Olivia (Jacob); Caren Morgan McCurdy (Jay), and grandchildren Morgan, Jack, Skye and Ben, along with 22 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Throughout his life, Tom Morgan could never seem to arrest his thirst for learning, creating, growing, building and inventing. It would make sense that he would spend time embroidering shirts in the Muskogee ER in his down time, boating (whether it be cruising with Bonnie or pulling the kids around on skis), playing the accordion to relax, turning wood, entertaining his children on the piano with songs he learned by ear, oil painting for family and reading just about everything in sight, including a full set of encyclopedias. He was an amazing man. His intelligence, drive and uniqueness will be missed. The family appreciates the kindness shown by all who have been present, helping make Dad’s last years as comfortable as possible during this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. Memorial services will be held at a later date and posted to this website.