William “Bill” Rush Morgan, 95, of Pleasanton, Calif., died June 6, 2022, after battling complications of dementia since having a stroke in 2014.
Bill was born Dec. 5, 1926, on a farm near Scio. After graduating from Scio High, he worked at odd jobs in Oregon and California.
In 1946, he joined his brother Leo in Burns and worked as a log truck driver for Hines Lumber Co., during which time he met his future wife, Helen. He was drafted into the Army in 1951, married Helen on July 14, 1951, and served in the Korean War during 1952.
After his honorable discharge in 1953, he returned to Burns until moving to Idanha in 1959 to work for Green Veneer. He then moved to Mill City in 1962 and managed veneer sales for Green Veneer and veneer purchasing and plywood sales for North Santiam Plywood, where he was employed until he retired in 1998. Throughout his career he managed business affairs and made sound decisions.
Growing up, both Bill and Helen’s families were impacted by the Great Depression.They worked diligently to improve their lot in life. Bill had a positive outlook, working long hours as Helen managed the household and did much of the work of raising three children.
Bill was a member of the local school board, a church deacon, taught Sunday school and helped his children memorize the Lord’s Prayer. He was a member of First Christian Church in Mill City. He enjoyed hiking, hunting, skiing, playing sports in the backyard and taking his family on road trips.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Josephine Morgan; brothers, Vern and Leo Morgan; and sister, Marie Harris. He is survived by his wife, Helen; sons, Ken (Sheryl), Michael, and Gary (Alisa) Morgan; sisters, Jeanette Quarry and Berta Rice; and granddaughters Stacia Jensen, Kelly Morgan, and Laura (Ryan) Alley.
