Michael Word Morgan

Michael Word Morgan, 72, died on December 27, 2024, after a lengthy battle with interstitial lung disease, including a double lung transplant on July 29, 2024, his birthday. He leaves a legacy of light, music, humor, and a heartbroken family.

 Michael was born on July 29, 1952 to Lucy (Wickie) Wilkins Word Morgan and George (Sonny) Clifton Morgan Jr. He was the middle child of three sons including two brothers George Clifton III (Cliff) and Charles David (Charlie). He was born and raised in Warren, Arkansas on the same street where his grandfather and father grew up. Friends and family from Warren knew him as “Mike” and remembered him as “a gentle soul, great friend and classmate”. After graduating from Warren High School in 1970, he attended Southern State University on a basketball scholarship before graduating with his Bachelor’s degree in Business from Arkansas State University. A friend stated “Mike was my best college buddy and he defined COOL.” He was a Renaissance man holding many jobs before finding his true calling and entering a graduate program at the University of Arkansas. In 1988 he completed his schooling and earned a Master of Recreational Therapy. Michael continued to be a big Razorbacks fan throughout his life and knew every basketball player who ever played at “the University”. “WOO PIG SOOIE!”

Michael met his partner in everything Erin (Laney) Morgan and they married in January 1993. Together they raised two amazing boys, Samuel Laney and Spenser Word. In the words of his sons: “My dad was the best father anyone could’ve asked for, a role model of how a real man should act. He taught me how to be a better husband, and countless life lessons along the way.” “I’ve never met someone more honest and with more integrity than my father. Everything I know about what it means to be a husband, to be a father, and to be a man came from him.” 

Throughout his adult life, service to children and families was paramount. He served as Director of Youth Ministries of the First United Methodist Church in Springdale, AR. Then, following grad school he began his life’s work as a recreational therapist at Crittenton Children’s Center. He volunteered to provide respite care for pediatric hospice patients and their families, was a cub scout leader in his son’s pack, and in retirement, read weekly with Mrs. Quinn’s third-grade class. 

He retired from Crittenton in August 2018 after 30 years of work dedicated to the children of his community. In keeping with his favorite saying “Wherever you go, there you are,” Michael was happiest walking through a field shedding, sitting on his front porch overlooking the lake with the family dog, Eddy, attending music festivals, and spending time with the family and friends he loved dearly. He loved music of all genres, but particularly Bluegrass. Fred Short remembered a time at the Mountain View Music Festival when friends gathered to pick: “Mike was in the moment.” But by far his favorite role in retirement was that of “G-Papa” to his beautiful granddaughters, Evie and Maya. Michael was an amazing father, husband, brother, uncle, and friend to everyone who had the privilege of being in his orbit. 

Michael is survived by his wife of 31 years, Erin (Lake Tapawingo, MO); children Sam and Megan Morgan (Independence, MO); Spenser and Gina Morgan (Carbondale, IL); granddaughters Evie and Maya; Erin's parents, John and Brenda Laney (Lee’s Summit, MO); brothers Cliff Morgan (Warren, AR), Charlie and Stephanie Morgan (Belton, MO); brother-in-law Chris and Kristen Laney (Cummington, MA); nieces and nephews, Rosanne (Devin), Shelby, Kyle (Alex), Stephen, and Nell; great nieces and nephew, Emberly, Sterling, and Leila; and many loving friends and family members. 

He is preceded in death by his grandparents George Saunders Word Sr., Lucille Thompson Word (Honey), George Clifton Morgan Sr. (Pappoo) and Ruth Caplinger Morgan (Mammoo), parents George Clifton Morgan Jr. (Papa) and Lucy Wilkins Word Morgan (Jammama) and beloved niece, Kimberly Word Morgan, whose life inspired Michael to seek a career in the service of children. 

Celebrations of Michael’s Life will be held in mid-June in Warren, AR, and Lake Tapawingo, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to: Crittenton Children’s Center, whose children benefited from his energy and compassion; Midwest Animal ResQ (Raytown, MO), who provided a loving canine companion in his final years, or to assist Michael’s family with expenses related to his prolonged illness and hospitalization following his lung transplant: GOFUNDME