Ellis M "Morgan" Hardin Jr.

Big Spring, TX – Morgan Hardin, 97, of Odessa, passed away peacefully at Scenic Mountain Medical Center Hospice Ward Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Our Lord not only blessed Morgan with His love and salvation, but with a long, full life filled with loving family, great friends and wonderful memories before mercifully sparing him from prolonged suffering.

Morgan was born July 13, 1924 in Brawley, CA to Ellis Hardin and Ellen (Smith) Hardin. He honorably and proudly served his country in the US Army during WWII as an anti-aircraft gunner on a quad .50 caliber machine gun for the 131st AAA Gun Battalion, Battery C in the European Theater, where he was tagged with the nickname “Eagle Eye” by his buddies. He enjoyed regaling his family with war stories and, even though he claimed to have “barely missed” the Battle of the Bulge, it was discovered he fought in the battle on the northwest flank and missed being hit by a buzz bomb exploding less than 50 yards away on Christmas Day 1944. After being honorably discharged at Camp Fannin, Morgan left the family farm in Zephyr, TX and relocated to Odessa where he learned to be an auto mechanic on the GI Bill. Here he met and fell in love with Tres, the beautiful young lady who would be his wife for the next 64 years and 11 months. Together they became longtime members of the First Baptist Church, raised and loved two sons and a daughter, and worked tirelessly to instill the ethics and values that would enable them to live happy, productive lives. Morgan especially adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his biggest regret was that he wouldn’t get to see them or play with them again before leaving this life.

Morgan worked at several car dealerships in Odessa and briefly ran his own auto-repair shop, but the majority of his career was with Broncho Chevrolet where he was awarded Top Mechanic of the Year many times and where he made many lifelong friends. Anyone who knew him well knew that he was an avid MOJO and Longhorn football fan, hunter, and fisherman; and in his younger days loved to race cars and boats.

Morgan is preceded in death by his parents, step-father, wife, oldest son, sister, brother and step-brother. Survived by and left to cherish his memory are a son, daughter, daughter-in-law, 2 grandchildren and family, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, August 14, 2021 in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Home, 4635 Oakwood Drive, Odessa, TX with Rev. David Evans officiating. Graveside services, military honors and interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Odessa. Arrangements are entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Pallbearers will include precious family and lifelong friends. No formal family visitation is scheduled.

Morgan’s family would like to thank the staff of Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home for all of their care and compassion during his final weeks.

Flowers are welcomed, and those wishing to make a donation in Morgan’s name may do so to their favorite charity.