Rita May Morgan

The Dash ~ by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak,

At a funeral of a friend,

He referred to the dates on the tombstone,

From the beginning,

To the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth,

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all,

Was the dash -, between those years

For that dash represents,

All the time that they spent,

Alive on earth,

And now only those who loved them,

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters most, is how we love,

And how we spend our dash.

So, when your eulogy is read,

With your life’s actions to rehash,

Would you be proud,

Of the things they say,

About how you lived your dash?

Our beloved Rita would most assuredly be proud of how she “spent HER dash,” and anyone who knew her, and knew her well, would definitely agree.Rita was many things, to many people. She was a daughter, a sister, and for many years, a devoted wife. She was a proud, devoted mother, a loving grandmother, AND great~grandmother.

Rita’s life began in Warrior Run, Pennsylvania, born to Francis and Helen Gomb. Francis was a coal miner who was tragically lost to a mining accident when Rita was quite young. She had an older brother Frank, a younger sister Mary Ann, and a younger brother Carl, all of whom she adored, but she was particularly close to young, handsome Carl. She would say many, many times in her life, that she was forever changed by his untimely, premature demise in October 1956.

Rita married Robert Alvin Morgan, also a coal miner, in 1945 and they began raising their growing family, which included eldest daughter Laura, son Robert Morgan Jr., and youngest son David, in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Following a five year pit-stop in New York, the family eventually settled in California.

Rita found employment in a handful of hospital and medical facilities, as an administrative assistant. She would immediately warm her way into the hearts of her respective employers and co-workers due to her exemplary work ethic, AND the scrumptious, baked delicacies that she would frequently bring in to share.

Speaking of deliciousness, Rita’s homemade cookies were LEGENDARY. hands down, and when she’d visit her grown children, and their families, post-divorce, and after relocating to Oregon, she’d always make certain that “cookie baking” was on the agenda.

Rita was a lifelong learner, thriving and thoroughly reveling in all of the knowledge she could absorb, in the numerous art/history courses she regularly enrolled in, at various community colleges, and yes, up until only a few short years ago.

In addition to this consistent, “learn~all~you~can~while~you’re~here~mantra,” Rita was an avid traveler, having visited over 15 countries in her 95 years.

A highlight for her and her family, upon returning from these “globe~trotting excursions,” would be when she would excitedly share all of the many slides, chronicling each trip, complete with extremely detailed commentary.

Rita also had a “magic touch with babies” and it was both awe~inspiring and wonderful to witness.

She had an affinity for crossword puzzles (the more pieces, and more challenging, the better!), and in recent years, became the “reigning queen of Wii Bowling” and the card game, “Hand And Foot” at her resident senior living center.

Rita loved to read, enjoyed watching British historical dramas and comedies, and the famed British sitcom, featuring Rowan Atkinson as “Mr. Bean” was a favorite.

She had an impressive flair for fashion, always “dressing to the nines,” while out in the work world, or, out on the town. When she moved to Portland, Oregon, eventually retiring, she adapted to a more relaxed, slower paced life and although she’d traded in her classy business suits, she still knew how to make the most stylish of entrances, and few could rock a denim jacket quite like Rita May.

Rita loved cats, dogs, the “Olive Garden Serve Yourself Salad,” biscottis, her son Bob’s “signature pasta dish,”Chicken Alfredo Fettucine With Mushrooms” (with the authentic “Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce recipe!”), would drive far and wide for the PERFECT latte, and you’d be hard~pressed to find a more loyal, appreciative “Three Stooges fan” than our Rita.

No, Rita Morgan was never one to allow any grass to grow under HER feet and she, more than most, truly, and with all she had, “spent her dash.”

Most of all though, Rita loved her family, and to convey how much they loved her would be an understatement.

Rita is survived by her younger sister, Mary Ann Verombeck, daughter Laura Leonard; sons Robert Morgan Jr. (and daughter-in-law Susan Morgan), David Karl Morgan(and daughter-in-law Leslie Morgan);granddaughters April Flynn (and husband Ryan Flynn); Chelsea Morgan; grandsons Dylan Morgan (and wife Anna Morgan), Jesse Leonard, Morgan Leonard, Cody Morgan; and great-grandchildren, Lindsea Morgan, Kylee Flynn, Katie Flynn, and Lily Flynn.

Rita was loved and cherished by all who knew her and a vital, much revered limb has fallen from our family tree.

Her life was a blessing, her memory, a treasure, and while the loss right now may feel immeasurable, so too, is the love she left behind.

R.I.P. dear Rita.

May you find eternal rest, knowing how very much you were loved.