Peggy Elynn Morgan

Farmington
Peggy F. C. Morgan
July 15, 2015
Although the goal of an obituary is brevity, the life story of Peggy Flynn Cummings Morgan, who died on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in the company of her beloved family, makes for a longer tale.
Peggy was born in 1926 in Barbers Hill, Texas, and raised in nearby Humble, Texas. Although she lived in New Mexico for more than 60 years, she remained a loyal Texan and returned annually to her hometown for the Humble High School reunion. The last reunion she attended marked her 70th.
In 1947, she married Jack M. Morgan. Both were attending the University of Texas in Austin. Peggy studied business and accounting, and Jack studied the law. She also met her lifelong friend, Amelia Graves, in Texas. Decades later, they met annually in Santa Fe and Farmington to enjoy summertime in New Mexico and performances at the Santa Fe Opera.
Upon graduation, the Morgans moved to Portales. Peggy worked for Roosevelt County Hospital and Eastern New Mexico University while Jack practiced law with his brother, Jay. Peggy joined Beta Sigma Phi sorority while in Portales and enjoyed years of friendship with her BSP sisters.
Her first two children, daughters Marilyn and Rebecca, were born in Portales. In 1955, the family moved to Farmington. While Jack built his law practice in Farmington, Peggy worked at the New Mexico Employment Service, but left her position after the birth of her third child, Claudia. In 1964, she and Jack were both surprised and overjoyed with the birth of their fourth and final child, Jack Jr.
In the early 1960s, Peggy purchased Farmington Floral. In addition to raising her children, she became an increasingly active member of the Farmington community. While her husband, Jack Sr., began a career in politics, Peggy enthusiastically supported her children's activities and became a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Her passionate involvement in her children's education culminated in her service as an elected official on the Farmington Municipal School Board.
Peggy learned to ski at age 50 and realized her dream of getting a pilot's license at 55. She became an active member of the regional flying club and flew all over the Southwest, either to meet Jack or to visit her grandchildren. Flying was a source of great pleasure and sparked her desire to travel further. In her early 60s, she earned a certificate as a travel agent and purchased Discovery Travel, a Farmington travel agency. She was able to travel widely, including to Ireland, where she reported she had to stand on her head to kiss the Blarney Stone; to Kenya, where she stayed in the Treetops Hotel so she could watch the animals feed at night; to China; and to Switzerland, where she sought out the locations from her favorite movie, "The Sound of Music." She often traveled with her beloved friend and fellow travel agent, Sarah Kincheloe. Peggy was a devoted grandmother, and as each of her five grandchildren graduated from high school, she invited them on a cruise. "Bama," as she was known to her grand- and great-grandchildren, remembered these trips to Alaska, Canada and the Caribbean in vivid detail until her final hours.
After the deaths of her husband and son, Jack Sr. and Jack Jr., in 2004 and 2005, respectively, Peggy began spending long periods of time living in Henderson, Texas, with her daughter Claudia, an accomplished restaurateur and caterer. As in Farmington, Peggy made friends easily, developing a "breakfast buddies club," that met each morning. She moved to Henderson full-time to live with Claudia and her husband, Weldon Gray, in 2011, but returned to Farmington often for visits. Between 2011 and the present, she also regularly visited her younger brother, James R. Cummings, and his wife Mary Ann Cummings, in Cleveland, Texas. Peggy adored her brother, Jim, and traveled to Texas for one final visit to attend his memorial service on July 3, 2015.
In 2010, with support from her mother, Rebecca Morgan opened Namaste House Assisted Living in Farmington. After her move to Texas, Peggy continued to visit Farmington, using Namaste House as a home base to reconnect with friends and loved ones. She spent her final months at Namaste House and passed away peacefully in the company of her family and the Namaste community.
Left to love and celebrate the life of Peggy Morgan are her children, Marilyn Montoya (Patrick), Rebecca Morgan, Claudia Morgan Gray (Weldon) and Bobbi Morgan (Corey Shipp); her grandchildren, Jessica May (Karen Bala), John May (Tara), Grace May Warden (Scott), Amanda Van Meter (Matt) and Mary Morgan; and great-grandson, Noah Bala-May. In addition to dozens of friends, Peggy's family by choice includes William, Roger, Brittany (Stephen); their four children; and Danielle (Tyler) and Lori.
The family is particularly grateful for the compassionate care Peggy received from Tracy Grace and the staff at Basin Hospice.
Instead of flowers, the family asks to you consider remembering Peggy with donations to First Presbyterian Church, 865 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington; to the Farmington Lion's Club, P.O. Box 417, Farmington, NM 87499; or to the Farmington Museum Foundation P.O. 115, Farmington, NM 87499.
All are invited to join the Morgan family in a celebration of Peggy's life at 2 p.m. today (Saturday, July 18), at the First Presbyterian Church in Farmington, and for a reception immediately following at Namaste House Assisted Living, 800 W. 30th St. in Farmington.