Eugene for a Car

Initially, I wasn't going to write this post. I was going to ask another family member to write it but I felt so compelled to share my stories of him.

The last family funeral I attended was the sudden death of my uncle in 2007, almost age 60. Although he was my uncle via marriage, he'd been married to my aunt much longer than I'd been alive.

He met my Aunt Linda while they were studying at Kent State. Writing this made me realize I'm not sure exactly how they met. How long did they date? Did he talk to my grandpa before proposing? Was it a long engagement? He had a knack for telling stories, I'd have loved to have heard his version of events.

Dave Morgan
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sep. 19, 1948 Departed on Jul. 10, 2007 and resided in Cadiz,, OH.
Visitation:	Thursday, Jul. 12, 2007 - 9:00 pm
Service:	Friday, Jul. 13, 2007 11:00 am
Dave Morgan, 58, of Cadiz, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at the Cleveland Clinic. He was born September 19, 1948 in Pittsburgh, PA, a son of Lois Russell Morgan of Cadiz and the late Eugene D. Morgan.

Dave was an Exploration Geologist and a Land Agent for Consolidation Coal Company for 28 years. He was a member of St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Cadiz; the Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation; and he coached Hot Stove Baseball in Cadiz for many years. 

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, Drew. 

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife, Linda Miles Morgan; a daughter, Cherilynn Morgan of South Park, PA; a son, Dewey Morgan of the home; a sister, Bernadette (Dennis) Barrett of Pittsburgh; a brother, Dane (Debra) Morgan of Cadiz; eleven nieces and nephews; one great niece; and a special friend, C.D., a Jack Russell Terrier. 

His name was Eugene David Morgan, II. He was a husband, brother, father, uncle, friend, geologist, baseball coach, jokester, and over all - a great guy. Just don't call him Eugene - it was Uncle Dave, always Uncle Dave.

Growing up the adults would wager us kids if we named our first child after Uncle Dave, he would buy us a car. No, not Dave. Uncle Dave's real name the adults would say "Eugene?". When we would accept they would all laugh. Uncle Dave would say bring him a child and then he'd pay up. As Aunt Robin liked to point out, he never said what kind of car it would be. For all we knew it was a clunker that would be be hauled off of Uncle John's place.

He built "bunny mobiles" for his property and pet bunnies. He would offer to pay me $20 if I could hold the electric fence for 60 seconds - I never could.  Uncle Dave told very funny stories about his in-law's aka my grandparents. He loved to bust my grandmother's chops. Once, I saw this personally and I'll never forget the look on her face .... his heart was always in a good place with his jokes.

Each time he would smile and give that salt of the earth laugh from deep down in his belly.

It wasn't until after he died, several years later in fact, I learned he'd been sick. The death wasn't as sudden as I thought or had been lead to believe. It was cancer. Of what, I'm still not clear.

I painstakingly recorded the time of his death in my journal. I remember thinking I did not want to forget a single, no matter how small, detail. Tonight I realized how glad I was that I did that. As I was re-reading my journal I read things I'd forgotten about.

He (Uncle Dave) was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic's ICU last week. He had liver & kidney failure. They had to insert a breathing tube and he began aspirating bile. One of his eyes was dilated but they didn't know why. The next day his blood pressure was uncontrollable and Aunt Linda was given "the talk", as my father calls it, by hospital personnel. Aunt Linda thinks he is improving but I attribute that to her positive nature. The thought of her beloved leaving her is surely incomprehensible right now. Uncle Dave took his last breaths around 2am. My cousin Cher says he passed peacefully. I hope to god that is true.

I'd of course love to ask him about meeting & marrying Aunt Linda. When or how did he know she was the one? (Side note: I am biased but Aunt Linda is pretty special!) Was he on campus during the Kent State Massacre? What did he remember? What propelled him toward geology?

My biggest regret is not talking to him more, especially in the time leading up to his death, but I was lucky enough to call him my uncle.

I found this photo after his death & shared it with most of my family. It brings a smile to my face & is in a frame on my dressing table. I look at and remember him each day.

Left to Right: Grandpa Miles, Uncle Dave (holding Cher, Cher is holding me), Dewey,  Uncle Tom (holding Emily). Circa 1988 - 855 Roanoke Rd Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Happy Valentine's Day Uncle Dave! I miss you & love you.