Morgan_Edmond_Jr._31 October 1922
Edmond Morgan Jr. passed away October 20, 2010, at his home in Lewiston, Idaho, the seventh of twelve children born to Edmond Morgan Sr. and Catherine Lewis Morgan. Ed entered the world on Halloween night, October 31, 1922, while his father chased tricksters away from their home in Malad City, Idaho. Ed spent his early years between the family ranch at Deep Creek, Oneida County and the family’s winter home in Malad. He learned early the value of hard work and never gave less than his best. His work ethic learned from hard-working parents and siblings w as a hallmark throughout his life.
While in high school, Ed was an outstanding athlete participating in football, boxing, wrestling, track and baseball. He also enjoyed many FFA activities. Upon graduation from Malad High School in 1941, he began technical t raining at Utah State Agricultural College. However, this education was interrupted when he received his draft notice in 1943. He was inducted into the Army and took basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. He was then assigned to the 75th Infantry Division. Later he applied and was accepted into the Army Air Corp program at Oklahoma City to train cadets as pilots, bombardiers, or navigators. Much to his disappointment, the program was cancelled just as he was ready to finish his requirements.
Given a choice to return to the Infantry or join the airborne program, he chose to train as a paratrooper. Ed completed jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he also became a demolition expert. His next assignment was at Fort Mead, Maryland, followed by a brief stay at Camp Shanks, New York. He embarked to Europe on the ocean liner, Queen Mary.
Headquarters Company 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division, he entered the Ardennes and spent Christmas Day in a foxhole in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. He never forgot the miserable and horrific conditions that he experienced during that long winter of fighting. Like all other veterans of that campaign, he too stated he had “never been as cold, wet, and hungry before or since” that winter. In March of 1945 he participated in Operation Varsity, the Allied Airborne assault across the Rhine River in Germany. Ed was also involved in various actions in the Rhineland and Central Europe.
After the war in Europe ended, Ed returned to the United States expecting his division to enter the war in the Pacific. However, WW11 came to an end and he was honorably discharged from the Army.
He returned home to Idaho and his family’s ranch for a time before enrolling at the University of Idaho in Moscow. On September 8, 1947, he married Carma Camp in Malad. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ed graduated from the University of Idaho with a business administration degree. At the time of his retirement, he was working for the University of Idaho in conjunction with the Washington State veterinary program.
He loved fishing and looked forward to taking his boat on Lake Pend Oreille and Dworshak reservoirs. Additionally, he enjoyed camping and woodworking. For many years, he worked with Boy Scout programs and was proud to be the father of an Eagle Scout. Ed served in various callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was an executive secretary to several bishops.
He and Carma enjoyed serving a Welfare Services mission where they were instrumental in helping others obtain work.
Ed and Carma made Moscow their home for over _____________Lewiston in 2009 to be closer to family members. He is survived by his wife, Carma, and three children, daughters: Kay Wright (Dennis) of Springville, Utah; Jill Roberts (Don) of Lewiston, and son, John Morgan (Claire) of Brooklyn, New York. He was also a loving grandfather who took pride in each of his nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Ed is also survived by his sister, Katherine Tovey (Terrel) of Hermiston, Oregon; his brothers, Cleve Morgan (Kay) of Soda Springs, Idaho and Glen Morgan (Delores) or Lewiston and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, John, Lewis, Leland, Bill and Gene and sisters, Ann, Doris, and Lydia in addition to a granddaughter Erin.
Funeral services were conducted on Monday, October 25, in Moscow, Idaho at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, 1657 S. Blaine St. Burial services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, October 29, at the St. John Cemetery, outside Malad, Idaho.
The family wishes to express heartfelt appreciation to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center Family Hospice and to Dr. Katrina Popham and Dr. David Martin along with nurses Kathy Roberts and Sandy Chetwood.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests any memorial contributions be made to the University of Idaho Vandal Scholarship Fund or SJRMC Family Hospice at Lewiston. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please sign the online guest book at (vassar-rawls.com).