Cynthia "Cindy" Morgan Keegan

Cynthia (Cindy) Morgan Keegan, 69, of Southport, NC passed into her Savior’s embrace at 3:06pm, Sunday, December 31, 2023, at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, NC. She died from complications following a kidney transplant several weeks earlier. At the time of her death she was comforted by her husband Ken, her brothers Bill Morgan, Wayne Morgan, sister Judy Huck and her husband Dan Huck. The day before her other sisters were present: Eileen Arrington and husband Josh, Sheri Morgan Miller and husband Matthew, and Meredith A. Morgan via video call.

Born Cynthia Kay Morgan, on April 22, 1954, at Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio to parents William Thomas Morgan and Joan Eileen Morgan (Carmack). As the Morgans’ second child, she was a welcome younger sister to William Thomas Morgan II, then followed by sister Judy, brother Wayne, sisters Meredith, Eileen, and Sheri. She was also one of the eldest of 40 first cousins on her father’s side, and 5 first cousins on her mother’s side. Extended family was always part of growing up in Tallmadge, Ohio in the 1950s, 60s and 70s – visiting relatives many Sundays, enjoying the fun of the annual swim park family reunions, and well attended Thanksgivings! In Tallmadge, Ohio everyone knew at least a couple of the Morgan children.

Her younger siblings enjoyed her brand of humor, and benefited from her teaching them many of the crafts she enjoyed over the years: crocheting, knitting, macramé (many wall hangings of owls with huge wooden eyes, and hanging tables everywhere!), needlepoint and more. They also were thrilled with her generous and fun gifts for birthdays and holidays, and just because. Cindy and Judy, being sisters just two years apart, shared so much together, including the big upstairs room painted purple in the house their father built in Tallmadge. They “borrowed” clothing from one another, babysat their siblings, and worked out the inevitable conflicts as they grew up, always sharing that special bond of two elder sisters.

She graduated from Tallmadge High School in 1972, where she was an excellent student and a 3-year member of the marching band, playing clarinet along with her sister Judy. She and Judy played in the band when they recorded an LP of marching and popular favorites – one sister still owns and treasures that vinyl record. One focus of her high school education was preparation for secretarial pursuits, doing very well in typing, shorthand and dictation. Those skills would be an entrée to a succession of business positions, reaching managerial status at Best Products, Inc., starting in Akron, Ohio and later transferring to Wilmington, NC where she’d go on to meet the two loves of her life. While in Wilmington she later worked for Solomon, Smith Barney, and Lehman Brothers, advancing her career several levels through her rigorous pursuit of coursework in finance and investments.

Cindy always had plenty of good friends, as her humor, intelligence, and ready (sometimes uncontrollable) laugh could disarm just about anyone. She’s maintained many lifelong friendships and easily made new groups of friends whenever moving to a new community or joining a church. Her faith in God steadied and guided her throughout her life, having been a member of Tallmadge United Methodist Church, later Grace Baptist, and College Acres Baptist churches.

While living in Wilmington and working at Best Products she met Larry Nicolas, whom she’d grow to adore, love, and marry in 1979. They shared 27 years of dedicated marriage, their Christian faith helping them to grow together. They loved their fishing excursions in their boat named “Cindy’s Baby.” Her parents and siblings enjoyed hearing about “floundering” fishing for flounder in the Intercoastal Waterway. To her family in Ohio her life was rather adventurous and sunny, and much warmer in North Carolina – they loved to visit and enjoy her company and her life there. Emotional good-byes were almost always part of the visits as Cindy was always able to share her joys, her warmth and her tears.

The loss of her first husband Larry to kidney cancer was monumental and it took several years to reach a level of comfort in finding new companionship. In 2015, seven years after Larry’s passing, she met Ken Keegan, also a widower of seven years – this commonality was a starting place for conversation and understanding. His wit, charm, and gregariousness became a great match for all that Cindy had become. Cindy and Ken grew together over the next two years and married in 2017. Cindy supported Ken’s successful real estate career and also enjoyed working in sales at local boutiques in her retirement. Trips to Cancun, Mexico were delightful and regular until the pandemic began in 2020. Plenty of friends enjoyed the parties they hosted at their home.

During Ken and Cindy’s nine years together she enjoyed anchoring herself into her new community of the St. James area of Southport, NC. She’d become a welcome and treasured member of the St. James Bowling League (maybe not contributing the highest scores, but certainly some high levels of humor, camaraderie, and fun), the St. James Bible study group, and the St. James book club.

Together Cindy and Ken decided to bring two adorable tiny Shi-Poo puppies, first Mollie, then her little -brother Moe. The two have added fun and antics and have become essential to their home.

This past summer of 2023 Cindy joined a group trip to Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. She enjoyed the legendary sites such as The Great Pyramids of Giza, the ancient city of Petra, and a true pilgrim’s trek – walking the Twelves Stations of The Cross, seeing Jesus’ tomb in Jerusalem, and renewing her baptism in the Jordan River.

She is survived by husband Ken Keegan of Southport, NC, his sister Eileen Keegan And children: Amy and Robert Keegan of Wantagh, NY, Cindy’s siblings: Bill and wife Margaret Morgan of Rootstown, OH, Judy Huck and husband Dan Huck of Tallmadge, OH, Wayne &wife Jan Morgan of Orlando, WV, Meredith A. Morgan & Gary Serbeniuk of Laguna Woods, CA, Eileen Arrington and her husband, the Reverend D. Josh Arrington of Hampstead, NC, Sheri Morgan Miller and husband Matthew Miller, her beloved dogs Mollie & Moe, previous in-laws: Richard Nicolas and wife Cindy of Livingston, TX; a sister, Louisa Volpe of Houston, and dozens of cousins, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews and uncles and aunts.

Please join her husband Ken and Cindy’s family members at visitation this Wednesday evening, January 3, 2024, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, with funeral service following at 7:00pm at Peacock, Newnam and White Funeral Services, 1411 North Howe Street, Southport, NC 28461.

A small graveside service will be held Friday, 3:00pm, January 5, 2024, at the grave of Lawrence Nicolas in Oleander Memorial Gardens, 306 Bradley Dr, Wilmington, NC 28409.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.