Larry Morgan
Lawrence "Larry" Howard Morgan, 69, went to be with our Lord and Savior on December 15, 2018.
He fought double-fisted against two strong opponents, colon cancer and Parkinson’s disease, and was an inspiration to all who had the blessing to know him along the way. “Big Moose” was a beloved father, husband, big brother, son, teammate, boss, co-worker, friend and classmate to many.
Larry was born in London, Ky., on March 16, 1949, to Sarah Frances (Jones) and Nathan Ancil Morgan. His family moved to Huntsville, where he attended elementary school. He attended the Tech Campus School following the family’s move to Cookeville, Tn. Sadly, his father died during this time, when Larry was only 12. He went on to graduate from Putnam County Senior High School in 1967 and attended MTSU and Tennessee Tech for three years before enlisting in the Air Force at March SAC Air Force Base in Riverside, Ca.
Larry began his career working in food processing facilities in Cookeville. He moved to Chattanooga where he began a 13-year career with Red Food Stores and eventually oversaw their distribution and warehouses. During these years, he was most proud of his heavy involvement with the initiation and continuation of the company’s successful Cancer Control program.
Larry transitioned to the catalog fulfillment industry at Express Fulfillment Services, where he met his wife Ann. They married in 1992 and moved to Dover, De., then Roanoke, Va., and Wilmington, De., where he oversaw warehouses, a great deal of merchandise, and many employees. Larry’s favorite pastimes included time spent on the sidelines of “his girls’” sports games, summers spent with family and friends at Daytona Beach, biking, walking, snow skiing, NASCAR and Indy car races, and days spent as “Captain Morgan” at the helm of a sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay with “his girls.” In 2008, the family moved to Chattanooga, where Larry retired. During these years, his biggest joy, and the “work” that made him most proud, was the raising of “his girls.”
He is survived by his loving wife, Ann (Hodge) and daughters, Sarah Jess and Katie Morgan, all of Chattanooga; his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Debbie (Tidmarsh) Morgan of Cookeville; sister, Pam (Morgan) Davis of Hilham, Tn.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Hunter W. and Amy (Felker) Norris of Tullahoma; stepdaughter, Laura (Middlebrooks) and husband, Randy Chambers and stepgrandson, Leander Kalloniatis, all of Statesboro, Ga. Five nieces and five nephews survive him as well. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his brother, Ancil Horace Morgan and his brother-in-law, Donnie Lee Davis.
Larry was a faithful member of Brainerd Baptist Church and was ferociously dedicated to his Rock Steady boxing classes and Pedaling for Parkinson’s sessions as he battled his Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Memorial contributions may be sent to Brainerd Baptist Church, P.O. Box 8159, Chattanooga, Tn. 37414 or the Parkinson’s programs, Healthy Living Center at North River YMCA, 4138 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415 (the check may be written to YMCA.)
Visitation will be held at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 5-7 p.m. His burial will be at the National Cemetery on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 1 p.m. with a memorial service celebrating his life at Brainerd Baptist Church at 3 p.m., with Reverend Micah Fries officiating.
Pallbearers are David Bibee, Gary Brodioi, Mike Carter, Grant Davis, Randall Graff, Leander Kalloniatis, Nathan Morgan and Zach Norris along with honorary pallbearers Lloyd Barrett, Bill Stewart and all the fighters of Larry’s Rock Steady boxing class.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343. Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.