Clarence Morgan

Clarence M. Morgan, also known as “Honey,” Morgan to many, Poppey to his grandchildren, great grandchildren and many others, also dearly referred to as Pop-Pop. He was born on May 2, 1925, in Calvert, Texas to Abe and Lulline Morgan. He was the 15th child of 16 children, all who preceded him in death.  He married Lethia Salter in 1943. One son was born to that union, Alvin Morgan who preceded him in death. 

He joined the United States Army in 1943, where he served a two-year tour.  His enlistment landed him in an Asiatic-Pacific tour of duty during World War II, where his assigned duty was at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, recovering wounded and fallen soldiers from ships that had been attacked and destroyed.  His service experience left a scarred memory for him throughout his life.

Clarence left the Army in 1946 and joined the Army Reserve Corps. and was honorably discharged in July of 1949, and moved to Lubbock, Texas to work on a farm in a suburb near Lubbock called Petersburg. In 1950, he met and fell in love with Pauline Mosley Howlett. She had two children from a previous marriage, Melva Jean Howlett aka “Cookie” and Weldon Ray Howlett aka “Butch.”  The two joined their lives together creating a family unit. They later had one daughter they shared in this union, in 1955, Paula Renee Morgan, “Binkey.” 

The family lived in Petersburg, Texas until 1957, then moved back to Lubbock, Texas and remained there until moving to Arcadia, Oklahoma in 1958. Clarence and Pauline raised their children in Arcadia. 

Pauline joined Mt. Pleasant Church in 1958. Although Clarence did not attend church at that time, he insisted upon the children attending church. He would often tell his little girl, who was never afraid to question him about his non-attendance of church, “If I never go to church, you will be going and you pray for your daddy.”  Taking it to heart, the prayers of a child continued into adulthood. One day, the evidence of prayer working showed up when Clarence joined church in his late 70’s. He sang in the Men’s Chorus, often sitting while the others stood to render a song. His ability to walk became a challenge, but he sang right along with his fellow chorus members, sitting on the end of the pew in the choir stand. His favorite Scripture was Psalms 23. He was often heard quoting that scripture in the wee hours of the morning.

It was never a surprise to see him driving around the town of Arcadia on his lawn mower. It beat trying to move around on his walker and helped preserve gasoline in his truck. He would drive downtown to sit on the stoop with his friends and shoot the breeze. He was a loving person, and quite humorous. He loved being around his grandchildren and great grands and his great-great grands.  He had his own pet name for each of them. He spent many days sitting on the front porch of his home watching his grands play or siting alone drinking coffee, eating sweets and taking cat naps. He would spend long hours outside. Many of his friends would come and join him on the porch. He adored a good domino challenge against his son Weldon. He won quite a few games, only because Weldon felt an obligation to let him win. You would often hear a bellowing laugh come from the kitchen table when he and Weldon were together. They shared the same witty personality and ability to make you laugh.

When his physical and mental health began to fail, in 2014, his daughter Paula moved him into her home in Northwest Oklahoma City. His wife joined him in 2016. He remained there until he departed this life.

Those who remain to create a legacy of love as he did are his wife Pauline, Oklahoma City, His Children and bonuses included: Alvin Morgan, (Deceased, Bonnie-Deceased), Dallas, Texas, Paula (Morgan) Goosby (Don-Deceased), Oklahoma City, Weldon Howlett Sr., Ontario, California, and Melva (Howlett) Davis (Danny) Rialto, California; Nineteen (19) grandchildren, Twenty-five (25) great grandchildren, Sixteen and a half (16.5) great-great grandchildren; the entire Goosby family who lovingly referred to him as Poppey, Amika (Shelly) Long-Pittman, his play granddaughter and the remaining Morgan, King, DeGrate and Webster family, and a host of relatives and friends.

Acts 2:47 NIV, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

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