Mattie was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina on April 7, 8 or 9th, 1917, (She was not sure!) near the farming community of Ronda. She was the middle child of ten, six girls and four boys.
She became the longest living member of her entire family. Her parents were farmers, Pearlie Mae Day and John Mitchell Welborn. She married Lt. Col. John E. Morgan Ret. USAF in Panama on December 26, 1941. There were many moves for this family between 1941 and 1962. They lived in places like Guam, California, Washington DC, Delaware, Mississippi, New York, Georgia,
Florida and Pennsylvania.
Mattie had an inner strength and love of God that kept her caring for her five ornery kids. The Hewitt Presbyterian church became the harbor that shaped the family's appreciation of and devotion to the love of God. Through her dedication and hard work she and her husband saw to it that the kids all had chances to get an education beyond high school, a goal she and her husband valued. In the twenty years since her husband's passing, Mattie and her children grew closer in all aspects of life. Mattie could no longer walk and had to become comfortable in a wheel chair to get around. As her inability to manage alone became noticeably apparent so did the love of her children's and grandchildren's commitment to her wellbeing. Through a joint effort the family enabled her to live out her golden years on the farm that she moved to in Greene County in 1962. Two special granddaughters became special helpers, Carrie Shiner and Holly Slater. Their efforts enabled Mattie to have refreshing showers and unequaled spa treatments daily! Through Stan & Carrie Shiners keen eyes, a fixer upper van was procured, renovated and restored so that Mattie had a handicapped van with a chariot lift enabling her to travel in style.
There were numerous neighbors who were special friends like Cindy and Ken Rex whose daily visit often was the spark that made Mom want to get out of bed. Good doctors also cared for Mattie like Dr. J. Gosai and Dr. Matt Burkett and the quick services of the Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Dept. assisted numerous times over the years.
Mattie's children are the following: John E. Morgan Jr. (Connie) of Milton, WV; David A. Morgan (Joy) of Rices Landing, PA; Martha L. Nastase (Orazio) of Bellefonte, PA; Mary Margaret Hines, (Paul) Edgewater, Florida; and Frank H. Morgan (Judy) of Marianna, PA. There are 14 Grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren. One blessed family all because of John and Mattie Morgan loving life.
Mattie loved gardening, canning, and spending time with her grandchildren. Many of the children loved their Gram for her saber sharp wit and dark humor!
She is survived by fourteen grand children: Paul Hines Jr., Julia Louise Rozman (Don), Holly Slater (Richard), Carrie (Stan) Shiner, Missi Jo Morgan, Lisa (Nate) Kyle, Jennifer (Eric) Saleme, Jackie Beth Morgan, Ryan (April) McCracken, Merideth (Danny) Morgan, Frank (Katie) Morgan, Michele (Richard) Valentic, Michael Morgan, and Laura Nastase.
The great grandchildren are: Amelia and Oliver Saleme; Jaxon Beck Morgan; Hannah , Haily & Savanah McCracken; Carson and Ainsley Morgan; Casey Carnahan; Tyler and Victoria Tillery, Duski Staggers, Jason Kyle and Courtney Adkins; Emily & Olivia Tobias; Wyatt Rozman; Morgan Slater; Brandon Slater; Stone & Tessa Morgan; Nolan & Brooke Valentic;
Max & Connor Morgan. Anthony and Ryan Slater are the two great-great grandsons.
Mattie was known as an avid golfer much to her husband’s frustration. She excelled on the putting greens and to the amazement of all, she was a straight shooter down the fairways. Her greatest pleasure on the golf course was "out putting" her husband John. Another golf competitor, her brother in law, Dick Barr used to say, "She was unconscious." on the golf green.
Crocheting hats, afghans, and little shoes kept her fingers busy for a long time after she gave up golfing. She is rumored to be now... putting and driving her golf ball straight down the greens in the sky park. Other talents surfaced in the kitchen as many of her children had wedding cakes that were baked and decorated with her icing, pretty roses and lace, all thanks to Mattie's cake decorating talent. It was only in her later years of life that she picked up a paint brush and crafted many lovely art pieces which are treasured by family members. Mattie credited her long life to working hard on the farm, clean living and eating blue berries daily. She loved to farm and she canned many jars of tomatoes, beans, peaches, pickles and beets.
We will miss our dear Mother. Memorials gifts to Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Dept., 66 Bayard Avenue, Rices Landing, PA 15357, would honor Mattie's memory.
Friends will be received on Monday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Behm Funeral Homes, 1477 Jefferson Road, Jefferson, PA 15344, Gregory P. Rohanna, supervisor, where services will be held at on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. William Parker officiating. Interment will follow in Greene County Memorial Park, Waynesburg. Condolences may be expressed at www.behm-funeralhomes.com.
