Laird Malcolm Morgan

Laird was born on March 3, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, when he was young, and he spent his childhood there before moving to Dallas, Texas, in his early 20s. He graduated from Muskogee High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma; attended Northeastern A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma; and received an A.O.S degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Laird turned his powerful passion for the culinary arts into a long career, from his first job as a cook at Chili’s to executive chef positions at many of the finest restaurants in Dallas, including Café Margaux, The Wine Press and Routh Street Brewery. He was also corporate chef at Consolidated Restaurant Operations (CRO), a company composed of over 140 restaurants, where he worked with the legendary restaurateur Gene Street. For the past 19 years, Laird served as banquet chef and A.M. children’s chef at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.

Laird loved to travel, and took many fabulous vacations with family, friends and fellow chefs, including trips to his favorite destination, Costa Rica. He adored his animals and enjoyed music and movies of all kinds. Laird was a big supporter of the Dallas sports teams, from the Cowboys to the Mavericks, and a huge fan of the Oklahoma Sooners. He was also a talented actor and orator, and won awards and acclaim for these skills in high school and college.

Perhaps more than anything else, Laird was a person who loved to laugh and make others laugh with him. His wonderful sense of humor and authentic charm made him an absolutely delightful person to be around. Laughter simply followed Laird wherever he went, whether he was at work, on vacation, spending time with friends or entertaining his grandchildren at home.

Laird was preceded in death by his father, Lt. Colonel Marvin Morgan, and his mother, Bonnie. He is survived by his loving wife, Rose Mary Morgan; Chloe (His Kitty); stepmother Betty Morgan Cooper; ex-life-partner, Diane Black, her daughter, Sandy Leonard, and grandson Blake Oliver; stepchildren Christopher Lee West and Monica Renee West; grandchildren Christopher Matthew West, Alexandria Marie West, Mario Nolan West and Madison Rose West; great grandchildren Jayden Lee West and Leilany Isabella West; first cousins Ginger Lang, Jere Kuehn, Steve Kuehn and Peggy Touchet; and second cousins Joel Kuehn, Matthew Kuehn, Seth Kuehn, Cassie Bryson, Gage Kuehn, Chance Kuehn, Zachary Wilcox, Erin Touchet and Eli Touchet. He also had many third cousins and numerous friends that he met and kept throughout his lifetime.

A memorial service is being planned for the spring of 2021.