Charles "Buddy" E Morgan Jr

Charles Edward "Buddy" Morgan Jr, 80, Checotah OK, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 1, 2016 at his home. He was born July 16, 1936 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Charles E. Morgan Sr and Alice M. (Blaylock) Morgan. Buddy retired in 1993 from the Okmulgee Ball Brother's Glass plant after 35 years. As a young man, he served in the National Guard. The first period was for 3 years and was granted an honorable discharge on January 16, 1959. He rejoined in the 1960's and was later granted another honorable discharge, but the documentation is lost for this time period so the length of service is unclear. He was a 32nd Degree Mason; he got his Scottish Rite Degree at the McAlester consistory. He was a Companion and Sir Knight in the York Rite Bodies (Muskogee Chapter #3 R.A.M., Council #2, C.M.), a member of the Muskogee Bedouin Shrine, and he held his Masonic card membership at Okmulgee's Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. He was a long-term member of the NRA & Muskogee Gun Club.

Buddy was a mechanic by nature. In his early 20's he rebuilt his first car, a Ford Coup. He always thought he wanted a motorcycle, but when he managed to break his shoulder blade riding the neighbor's... well, that was the end of that dream. He was always into loading his own ammo to shoot and collected guns. This obsession resulted in him building his own gun range later in life. Another thing listed on a mental bucket list was to "ride in a real plane". His brother, Ken (a retired U.S. Airman), arranged it for him. Afterwards, according to Ken, Buddy said, "Well, THAT wasn't what I expected!"

Gambling was never actually on his list until it became a trend among some of his friends and family. However, as with whatever he decided to do it had to be "done". He found 'craps' to be his game of choice and studied the odds etc. He even built a crap table out of his old pool table in the garage so he could practice. His latest acquisition was a snooker table brought to him all the way from Indiana by his nephew, Mike ~another thing checked off the list. Ken tells that they played 7 games on it during one visit, with Buddy winning them all!

Most friends and family members agree that he's best known for his wittiness and story telling abilities. He once said of himself, "IF I AIN'T TALKIN', I'M ASLEEP! I'M A FUNNY GUY; I COULD BE ON TV IF I WANTED TO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO. BUT, I COULD REALLY MAKE EM'LAUGH IF I WAS!" Instead, he enjoyed and mastered many hobbies in his lifetime: lake fishing & camping (made his own jigs & lures at one point), hunting (deer, elk, squirrel, dove, coon), billiards (a "sharpshooter" by many a testimony), snooker, shooting (a gunsmith, loaded his own ammunition; 2000-01 Muskogee Gun Club champion of the Bolt Action Military Rifle competition), Morse Code (earned a Amateur HAM Radio Operator License), photography (turned a bathroom into a dark room once upon a time), and RC airplanes (building & flying). His most recent endeavor was learning to air spray paint so he could personalize his own RC planes. One could say he was "A Buddy of all trades and a master of most!"

Buddy was preceded in death by parents: Charles E. Sr, and Jeri Morgan; Alice and Leo "Bud" Hayward, as well as 3 brothers: Tom Hayward and George & Carl Morgan (both infants). He will be missed by his devoted wife of 60 years, Alveta Morgan; 2 daughters: Anita (Jim) Greenwalt of El Dorado AR and Kathy (Gary) Hill of Checotah, OK. He leaves his legacy to 5 grandchildren: Barron Greenwalt of Pittsburgh, PA; Kristy (Nathan) Williams, Garret Hill, Geremy (Michelle) Hill all from Checotah, OK; and Jamie Burton of El Dorado, AR. He was adored by 8 great-grandchildren: Caitlin Greenwalt of Pittsburgh, PA; Cami and Autumn of El Dorado, AR.; Kristan Williams, Ethan Williams, Braydan Williams, Rylan Williams, and Zavior Hill all of Checotah, OK. Just days prior to his passing, he learned that he would soon be a great-great-grandfather. Buddy was 'big brother' to 10 siblings left here to carry on: Lewcreetia Lumpkin, Ken (LaVoye) Morgan, Russ (Alta) Hayward, Sherrelle Branch, and Linda (Johnie) Goad all of Muskogee, OK; Jerry Lee (Peggy) Morgan, Dale (Sharon) Morgan, Wayne Morgan, Ernest Morgan, and Faye (Ernie) Barrett all of Indianapolis, IN.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 7, 2016 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Checotah Funeral Service Chapel.

The family has entrusted Checotah Funeral and Cremation Service with the arrangements. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.checotahfuneralservice.com

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