MONTE LOCKE MORGAN

Monte Locke Morgan, 85, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2025, in Spokane, Washington at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was born on August 16, 1940, to Claude and Louella (Lewis) Morgan of Tekoa, who ran the tractor supply Morgan & Morgan. He grew up in Tekoa and attended Tekoa High School where he was a good student and active in sports, graduating in 1958.

He married Maita Berger, also of Tekoa at age 18 and then attended college at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in mathematics and his teaching credential. He and Maita moved to California where he taught junior high school math and coached sports for 40 years. Together they raised four children,

In 2000, Monte moved back to Tekoa and married Cheryl (Heaton) Morgan. They lived in the old Heaton homestead. Together they took on community projects such as the renovation of the Tekoa Theatre and the booking of entertainment there. Monte loved Tekoa, providing his energy where needed and supporting community development. He was active in the Tekoa Community Church. Monte's passion project was the Tekoa Trestle, and he was pivotal in the renovation of the trestle into the trail that is now part of the statewide Palouse to Cascades Trail.

Monte is survived by his wife of 25 years, Cheryl Morgan, his brother and sisters, Claudia (Morgan) Heaton (husband Jim Heaton), Connie (Morgan) Cada (husband Gene Cada), and Lonnie Morgan (wife Sandy Morgan) and his many nieces and nephews, as well as his step children Angie Rambo (husband Kim Rambo), and Gary Shrope (wife Tanya Shrope), his grandchildren Gavin and Madison Shrope and Kelsey Wolf. He is also survived by his four children Vicki (Morgan) DeArmon (husband Mitch DeArmon), Michael Monte Morgan (wife Amy Wagner), David Lonnie Morgan, and Kyle Edward Morgan (wife Alida McCotter) and his grandchildren: Myst Morgan (Washington), Zoe Bauer and Felix Morgan (Germany), and Brittni DeArmon, Taylor DeArmon, and Alexander DeArmon, plus two great grandchildren, Scarlett and Austin Seaton (all of California).

Monte will be dearly missed by his family and the community of Tekoa which has benefited from his philanthropy both in community projects and his kindness to individuals in need. He will be missed in cribbage games by his fellow crib lovers (Hal Whitman, Dan Rose, Fred Wagner and many others).

Monte will be buried in the Tekoa Cemetery.

Memorials can be given to Tekoa Ambulance, the Tekoa Theatre, and the Friends of the Tekoa Trestle.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monte's birthday on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Tekoa.

Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse, WA is caring for the family. Online condolences may be left at www.kramercares.com