Hal Morgan, 94, retired former owner and Vice-President of Morgan Brothers Electric and resident of Morning Pointe, died Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at Maury Regional Medical Center.
A graveside service will be conducted Friday at 2:30 P.M. at Zion Cemetery with Chaplain C. Ray Dye and Rev. Paul Joiner officiating. Military honors will be provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Friday from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials to Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19, c/o Donnie Walters, 114 Westview Drive, Spring Hill, TN 37174. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com
The Maury County native was the son of the late Leonard Howard Morgan and the late Ella Elizabeth Lanius Morgan. He was a descendant of the original Frierson settlers of Zion, the first settlers of Reese’s Chapel in Maury County, and the Dooley family who were instrumental in the development of the City of Columbia. He attended McDowell School, was a 1943 graduate of Columbia Central High School, and attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago.
He served from June 30, 1943 until November 5, 1945, as a Marine Air Force navigator in the Pacific area during World War II. He was a recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Navy/USCG Unit Commendation Ribbon, Sharpshooter Badge, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After returning to the States, he helped train navigators at Cherry Point, North Carolina, before being discharged. He was a Past Commander and 72-year member of American Legion Post 19, very active in helping with the Country Ham Breakfast and was a long-time member of the flag-folding detail.
Long active in civic and community affairs, he was Scout Master of Troop #103 for a number of years with Boy Scouts of America. He received the Long Rifle Award and Order of the Arrow. He was also active and had served as president of the Tombigbee Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Morgan was a former member and 1980-1981 president of Columbia Rotary Club. He was A Paul Harris Fellow and in 1996 received Honorary Club Member for Service Above Self prior to his resignation with thirty years prefect attendance. He was a member of Maury County Historical Society and was very active in the preservation of historical buildings, instrumental in saving The Old Girls School at Zion and restoring “Turner-Fleming Museum”. Mr. Morgan also enjoyed building and refinishing furniture, a trait he acquired from his grandfather who designed the original choir loft and built the pulpit that is still in use today at Zion Presbyterian Church. He was a descendant of the original settlers of Zion Presbyterian Church, where he was a member, former deacon and elder, and had served as president of Zion Cemetery Association.
Hal and his brother, Jack Morgan, established Morgan Brothers Electric, Inc, in 1947. Brother J. H. “Red” Morgan joined the Company in 1965. The brothers retired from the business in 1989. Hal continued to work in an advisory capacity for some time after retiring.
Survivors include his wife whom he married April 8, 1950, Audrey Pickard Armstrong Morgan of Columbia; granddaughters, Holly Louise (Gilly) Conners of Nashville and Virginia Helen “Hynie” (David) McDowell of Columbia; and great grandchildren, Gilmore Conners, Jr., Rebecca Conners, Virginia Conners, Gracie McDowell, Mimi McDowell, Porter Armstrong, Emmaclaire Armstrong; several nieces and nephews, and caregivers, Dina & Scott Martin and Peggy & Wayne Rich.
He was preceded in death by two sons, William Richard “Rick” Morgan and Maury Franklin Armstrong, Sr.; grandson, Maury Franklin Armstrong, Jr.; great grandson, Benjamin Hal Armstrong; sister, Catherine Morgan; and brothers, Leonard Howard Morgan, Jr., Jack P. Morgan, James H. “Red” Morgan, Abraham Lincoln “Abe” Morgan, and Jerry L. Morgan, Sr.
Active pallbearers will be Bob Morgan, Sr., David McDowell, Willis Armstrong, Jr., Porter Armstrong, Jimmy Couch, Alan Faulkner, Morgan Abernathy, and George Jones. Honorary pallbearers will include Gilmore Conners, Jr., George Nelson, David Wise, Ray Messick, Shelby Carpenter, Larry Morgan, Mike Pickard, Terry Cook, Rusty Hanshaw, Mike Green, Joe Brown, Bill Newell, Alvin Brown, Robert Boyd, Mac Morgan, Bill Knox, members of American Legion Post 19, and past and present employees of Morgan Brothers Electric.
