Emma Lee Morgan

She was born on the 8th of February 1918, to Cora (Asher) and Willis Lee Vance in Smithville, Missouri. She attended school in Smithville and was named Valedictorian of her graduating class. Emma Lee was especially proud when her first great-granddaughter and namesake earned the same award.

Following her mother's example, who earned a degree in 1904, she graduated from Northwest Missouri State in 1939 with a double major in Commerce and Mathematics. In 2017, she was recognized as the oldest living graduate of Northwest and honored as Homecoming Grand Marshal.

At Northwest, Emma Lee met her husband of 57 years, J. P. (June) Morgan, who predeceased her in 1998. They married in May, 1941, just prior to the United States entering World War II.

Following military service, including a two-year separation, they moved to Columbia, Missouri, where June returned to school and earned his law degree from the University of Missouri. They settled in Chillicothe, Missouri, to raise their family, and later moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, as June's legal career eventually took him to the Missouri Supreme Court, where he served as Chief Justice.

During this time Emma Lee and June had three children. She was a full-time mother, volunteer, math tutor to many, and an avid bridge player. In her 50's she found a new passion in golf and proudly claimed four holes-in-one, the last at the age of 89. They were long-time supporters of the Mizzou Tigers and Northwest Missouri Bearcats and loved to travel. Emma Lee always said she'd lived a full life having traveled the world.

Emma Lee was preceded in death by her husband; her brother-in-law, Joe Bill Nash; nephew, Gary Vance Nash, and son-in-law, Otis Clay Smith. She is survived by her sister, Lila Belle (Vance) Nash, of Platte City, Missouri; her three children, William Vance (Sara) Morgan, of Houston, Betty Ann Morgan, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, and John Lee (Marcia) Morgan, of Springfield, Missouri; six grandchildren, Michael (Chrissi) Morgan, Catherine Morgan, Jaime Leanne (Andy) Simons, Matthew Osborne, John Paul (Marti) Morgan and Amanda Morgan; ten great-grandchildren, Emma, Will M., Kate, Morgan, Alex, Cameron, Will S., Maddie, Jackson and Silas; and niece Jo Karen (Bill) Brown.

The family would like to express their grateful appreciation to Emma Lee’s wonderful caregivers: American Bojorquez, Martha Garcia, Ofelia Diaz Mendez, and Beatrice Cerna, and a special thank you to Sue Schwartz.

A funeral service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 17th of September, in the chapel at Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison Street, in Jefferson City, Missouri.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.