Jeanne Marie Morlan

Jeanne Marie was “Born on the Island” in Galveston, Texas on the September 28, 1937, to Epifania “Fay” & Harmon Eugene Raney and was raised in Baytown. She graduated from Incarnate Word Academy in Houston and then attended Lee College before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Jeanne worked for PanAm Airlines before marrying Earl W. “Dub” Morlan, Jr. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in January 1962. They were on the move immediately with the U.S. Air Force and lived in San Angelo TX, Turkey, Italy, Maryland, and Nebraska. During this period Jeanne Marie busied herself with Officers’ Wives activities, church ministry, writing articles for various local newspapers, and making four babies.

Jeanne and Dub moved back to Baytown in 1974 and joined St. Joseph Catholic Church where she sang in the choir, served in the Catholic Daughters of America with her mom, encouraged vocations to the priesthood through involvement in the parish Serra Club chapter, and volunteered as the adult sponsor of the Catholic Youth Organization for high school students. The kids in the C.Y.O. gave her the nickname of “The Big J.M.”

While raising their children, Jeanne Marie was also active in the League of Women Voters, the Friends of Sterling Municipal Library, and the Texas Library Association, just to name a few. She also volunteered at St. Joseph School where her children were attending, later joining the payroll as the elementary school librarian. She absolutely loved helping children fall in love with reading and books. One of her most acclaimed activities was the annual celebration for Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, which she loved organizing as much as the students loved attending! Jeanne also wrote (and won!) grants for school funding and coordinated with The Baytown Sun and diocesan publications to feature activities and accomplishments of the students at St. Joseph School. She even led the children in singing for Mass, accompanying them on the piano. Her greatest love outside of her family were the students and staff of St. Joseph School. She often remembered and spoke about them by name and even had friendships with many of them for years after she retired. If you are one of them reading this, she had a big heart for you.

Mom was an intelligent, generous, and often silly person who loved music, books, and most of all, her family. She even embraced technology, insisting on learning how to use email, a laptop, an iPad and iPhone, aaaaand… Facebook and Amazon. She loved to sing and play the piano. Her favorite “famous” piece was Manuel de Falla’s “Ritual Fire Dance”. She sang and danced around the house to the show tunes of “Kiss Me, Kate”, “High Society”, “West Side Story”, and so many more. She loved to travel and learn about different cultures and their history, and she treasured souvenirs and photos and connections made from her travels. She especially enjoyed Ireland and the people of Ireland so much that she and dad – both in their 80s – later participated for several years in different programs and classes presented by the Center for Irish Studies at the University of St. Thomas.

She instilled in her children a deep appreciation for education, music, old movies, Robert Redford, the Texas Longhorns, and a strict adherence to the rules of English grammar. She gave us a passion for God, knowledge, for justice and mercy, charity, and for family. She encouraged our talents, taking us to EVERY piano, flute, and violin lesson and attending EVERY recital, concert, dance performance, football-basketball-volleyball game, spelling bee, prep bowl, etc. Whatever we were doing, she was right there cheering us on. She always talked about us with pride, and we never doubted her love for us.

Jeanne Marie is preceded in death by her parents as well as many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her beloved and devoted husband of more than 63 years, Dub; son, Michael Morlan and Carla Feldpausch of Plainfield, VT; son, John and Vicki Morlan of Seabrook, TX, who have gone above and beyond to care for Mom & Dad; daughter, Mary Kathleen and Richard Hixon of Houston, TX; and daughter, Debra Marino of Cypress, TX. She completely adored her grandchildren, Jonathan (and Raina) Morlan, Cara Marino, Logan Romero, Landon Jacobs, and Brittany Blevins. And she was so tickled to be “Gigi” to her two great-grandchildren, Braelynne Morlan and Rowen Morlan.

Visitation will be on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 5pm to 8pm with Vigil at 6:30pm, at Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, Texas 77521. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church at 11:30am, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in the Family Life Center located at 1912 Carolina St., Baytown, Texas 77520. Committal will be held at 1:15 pm, Monday, October 6, 2025, at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas 77038.

In lieu of flowers and as cemetery only allows three floral displays, you may send donations to the St. Joseph School Library, 1811 Carolina St., Baytown, Texas 77520. Please make them out to St. Joseph Catholic School and mark them as memorials to Jeanne Marie Morlan. You may send them to the attention of Sr. Maureen Nwajiobi.