John R. Morgan

Vero Beach - John R. Morgan left this earth at the age of 67 on February 11, 2020. John was born in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania on December 27, 1952, to Nancy and John Morgan.

He graduated from the University of Virginia and was a successful businessman for 30 years. His company contributed to improvements on oceanic studies.

John was married to Ruza Morgan, they met at a restaurant and were married seven months later, and remained happily married for 3 1/2 years.

Besides spending time with his close friends and his wife he also enjoyed spending time with his wife's family. They loved him dearly. John got a taste of traveling after he and Ruza went to Hawaii together, he wanted to continue traveling as he loves seeing different cultures. He also enjoyed a good football game as well as his flying lessons. He was a generous, loving and beautiful person inside and out. People referred to him as a gentleman and a "Gem."

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life gathering on Saturday, February 22 at 3 PM at Humiston Beach, Vero Beach, Florida.

John is survived by his wife Ruth Morgan and his daughter Ashley Jackson as well as his mother Nancy Morgan and his sister Jane Morgan. He is also survived by his stepson Robert McGoye and his stepdaughter Anne Lewis.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Florida Oceanographic Society.

An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by TC Palm from Feb. 18 to Feb. 21, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for John Morgan

Sponsored by Strunk Funeral Homes and Crematory - Vero Beach.

44 Entries

Randy Bayliss

August 24, 2020

Just heard about John's far too early passing. I met John at UVA and became his a fraternity brother in 72. No Phi Sig will fail to remember John's head of long blond hair and his friendship. Glad he followed his dreams. My sympathies to all his family.

Michael Walther

February 22, 2020

John Morgan

Just hearing his name prompts me to lift my head and smile!

For almost 42 years, I had the privilege of being John's friend. As I expect was true for most of us, every encounter with John was an uplifting experience. John's ceaselessly evoked a positive, engaging, and contagious energy.

John and I had many shared interests. Beyond our wives, family, dogs, and general lust for life, we both had a passion for surfing. When we were young in the late 70's and early 80's, we regularly surfed Florida's east coast from Palm Beach to Brevard County. Some 40 years ago, after one particularly long dawn patrol session of a big north swell on Jupiter Island, John and I laughed at each other after we finished a late breakfast at the Lighthouse Cafe and then ordered a second breakfast. In the early 80's we both moved to Indian River County and became regulars at North Jetty and River Oaks north of Sebastian Inlet. During the "perfect storm" of 1991, John and I shared a humbling session with 15 foot waves in Martin County followed by a more manageable 2nd session at North Jetty. As we got older over the past 5 years or so, we became happy to just paddle out and sometimes only catch one wave but we'd still find that charge that made us briefly feel like teenagers.

In our later years, we took up bicycle riding together. Although I've had a road bike since college, John introduced me to mountain-bike riding in Florida. Although John never took us to any mountains in Florida, John took us to some quiet and scenic trails with lots of wildlife; many trails were dikes through swamps; John found these trails through his work with the water management districts. John was always the first to see deer, gators, and even a panther - at least we thought it looked like a panther.

John also was an obsessive Vero Beach High School sports fan; he attended football, basketball, baseball, and even lacrosse games to cheer for the Fighting Indians. As relatively cheap entertainment in sleepy Vero Beach, John drew me and my wife, Jeanne, to many games. John knew all the coaches, many of the players, and many other Fighting Indian fans that hed see at games and all over town. The best part of every game we attended with John was John.

Now John and I didn't do everything together. John had a motorcycle, a "dirt bike", as a teenager growing up in Pennsylvania. Somewhere after middle age, he decided to get a new dirt bike. Although I've never had any interest in motorcycles, John regularly reported his dirt bike adventures. It was apparent John became a teenager again on his new dirt bike motoring around Fellsmere. After a few spills John became a more cautious post-middle aged dirt biker.

Beyond motorcycles, John had a passion for most all animals, which we shared, but John also developed a passion for cattle, which we didn't share. John even had a side-business with somewhere on the order of 30 head of cattle. For his initial herd of 3 cows and a bull for breeding, John compassionately gave each member of the herd a name and largely considered them pets. In the beef cattle business, this made it difficult for John to sell his cattle. Fortunately, John's friend Nick picked up John's cattle business.

More compelling than his hobbies and other interests, John was a very social person who carried a lot of love for people first for his family and then everybody else.

In 1978, when I first met John, he was a single man and I was a recently married man. In those early days, John would only mention his dates if they conflicted with other activities. However, when he met Sharon, I heard about Sharon from John all the time. Sharon and her kids, Anne and Robert, brought love and stability into Johns life; they very much became his focus over the next 30 plus years. In 1985, John and Sharons daughter, Ashley, was born and became the apple of Johns eye. John loved being a father regularly sharing the latest news about his children. Eventually Anne and Robert married and brought grandchildren to John, who found great satisfaction and pride in his grandkids.

After Sharons tragic passing in 2016, John, being an extremely social person, recognized he could not live alone. John then found dating aps and regularly reported on the travails of middle-aged dating - that is until John met Ruza and all the lights went on. They dated and then married in July 2017 in Hawaii. Ruza and her family brought love, stability, comfort and joy into to Johns life.

As far as I know, John was not an active member of any organized religion. On the other hand, John was a shining example of how to live the universal golden rule. John did so quite naturally without any hesitation; John was always thoughtfully considerate of others.

John was almost always smiling and always ready to laugh, John was a master at finding humor everywhere with everybody. He called this "yucking-it-up".

Just about everywhere John went he had a "buddy". John knew no strangers. Among people he didn't know, John would quickly find an opportunity to yuk-it-up, "break the ice", and make a new buddy.

John always saw the best in everyone he encountered. He brought out the best in all of us.

John was and still is that way. In John's memory I hope we can all strive to bring out the best in each other - just like John.

Thank you John. You will always be with us.

Matthew Starr

February 22, 2020

John you will missed good friend. It was a pleasure getting to know you over the last 15 years and hear the stories about your Brahma bull! My condolences to your family and loved ones.

Michael OBrien

February 21, 2020

John made is mark in so many ways!
I consider it as a privilege and honor to have known and worked with him for many years.
Condolences to Johns family.
Gods speed to our friend.

Scott Sherman

February 20, 2020

John & I were fellow pledges and fraternity brothers @ UVA. Unfortunately I hadnt seen him since those days. I remember him as a real nice guy who was always fun to be around.

Im very sorry to hear of his untimely passing and send along my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Ed Rinehart

February 20, 2020

I met John about 10 years ago, while desperately searching for good survey companies in Florida to assist in numerous projects for Jacksonville USACE. Like many others, we become not only business associates but friends. I guess it was we both were playing with cattle at the time and shared stories about dangerous situations. He will be missed!

Drex Knight

February 20, 2020

John and I met in 1970 during our 1st year at the University of Virginia. We became good friends, roommates, and fraternity brothers. I shared John's passing with a group of other fraternity brothers and all were saddened, and shared stories of what a wonderful friend he was. I know I speak for all of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity at Virginia, that John was a great man and will be missed. Our condolences to the family for their loss.

Ruza Morgan

February 19, 2020

John I will see you again one day. I love you! Ruza

XMAS 2018

Ruth Morgan

February 19, 2020

Sadie sweet girl

Ruth Morgan

February 19, 2020

Pepper Johns protector

Ruth Morgan

February 19, 2020

Ruth Morgan

February 19, 2020

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you today and always. Love you

Laura and George Stocker

February 19, 2020

John was a neighbor for years in Oceanaire Heights where our daughters were friends growing up ...a quiet,gental man who loved biking ♀ So sad to have another person leave the earth Our sympathy to Ashley and his wife
Laura and George Stovker

February 19, 2020

I am so sorry for your loss. God gives us a hope of being reunited with our loved ones again. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Love

Ruza Morgan

February 19, 2020

Maui

Ruza Morgan

February 19, 2020

Wedding vows

Ruza Morgan

February 19, 2020

Wedding Day

Ruza Morgan

February 19, 2020

Ruza Morgan

February 19, 2020

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.❤

Ruza bday

February 19, 2020

At Mike and Jeannes

February 19, 2020

Carrie Stabile

February 19, 2020

I was fortunate to meet John a few years ago and knew the minute I met him that my best friend Ruth for over 38 years had finally met her soul mate. They had such a wonderful connection and truly enjoyed each other. It was love at first site. Soon after meeting, they were married. Upon meeting John for the first time, my husband Rob and I immediately took a liking to this wonderful, kind soul. We had hoped to spend far more time with John to get to know him better. Some say that God takes the best of us too early and in this case heaven has gained another angel. Rest in peace John. You will never be forgotten.

Ruza Morgan

February 19, 2020

John leaves a Legacy of love and integrity with his family and those who knew him. He has left behind beautiful and wonderful memories of a loving husband, father and grandfather. I was grateful each day that I got to see his glowing smile and his great sense of humor. During our marriage we were together each and every day sharing so many grand things with each other. I will miss him more than words can express, I love you Captain John.

Mark Gonzales

February 19, 2020

I am saddened by hearing of the loss of John. John was a great guy to work for, as well as a significant inspiration in the progression of my own surveying career.

Susan Robinson Gibbons

February 19, 2020

I have many fond memories of growing up one street over from John. We were classmates from the start. My sympathy to Mrs. Morgan and Jane.

Atlas Surveying Drury

February 19, 2020

I was neighbors with Ronald Ecklund and went to school with Ronnies daughters. I worked for Keith and Schnars but I knew most of the guys at Strock. I believe I last saw John at Ronnies Funeral. I had spoken with John just a few times sine then regarding Hydrographic work. Such a great guy, he will be missed.

Christopher Golding, PSM6090

February 19, 2020

John was an inspiration to me, the Marines of Surveyors.. He is the only reason I pursued getting my license. I went to lunch with him to solicit him to do some work for FPL and I always enjoyed working with him. I showed John the work I was doing and he liked my work and encouraged me to get my license.

Ron Harris

February 19, 2020

John Morgan was a good man. I had the opportunity of knowing John for 25 years. During that time our professional capacities overlapped on numerous projects. He will be missed by all that knew him.

Ron Harris
Retired County Surveyor for St. Lucie County

Bob Bass

February 18, 2020

John, you will be sorely missed. Wish John could have joined us at a few of the past Phi Sig football and basketball game get togethers we have had over the past several years. You were certainly an enjoyable person.

Bill Green

February 18, 2020

John Morgan was a great man, he became my friend about 30 years ago as a customer who loved his trucks. He became a super customer and quickly became a close friend. We shared so many interests in sports, especially VBHS sports. All of them. He probably attended 1,000 different games home and away. He was a great fan. He always wanted the best for his family, employees and friends. I will miss him May he RIP.
Bill Green

Fritz Nelson

February 18, 2020

One of the best guys I ever worked for. I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing. I learned many things and traveled many places while a part of M&E. God Bless.

Bill Powell FL RLS 1812

February 18, 2020

During several occasions when John and I traded survey information and discussed some situations where there was controversy about boundary lines, I found John to be friendly, well-informed about survey matters and more than willing to assist a fellow surveyor. The surveying community has lost one of our most treasured members.
My prayers are with his family.

Thomas English

February 18, 2020

As a fellow surveyor, very sad to here of the passing of John. My sincere condolences to the family and friends. May John rest in eternal peace.

Dave Taylor

February 18, 2020

John was an excellent person. A fellow surveyor, John was always cordial and cooperative. We worked on a few projects together over the years. I knew away from work as well as I would see him often at VBHS football and lacrosse games. He was excited and happy about life and he will be sorely missed. Prayers to his family. Rest in Peace friend.

Kenneth Thompson

February 18, 2020

Another Surveyor has returned to the Point of Beginning. Condolences to the family. I never knew John, but he was a fellow Surveyor and will be missed. Ken Thompson PSM4080

Lori Brownell

February 18, 2020

John. You are a tremendous asset to the surveying and engineering community. You leave behind a legacy of friendship, partnership, and tremendously valued work ethic and trust that cannot be replaced. You were a great friend, mentor, and have been a treasured surveying partner for over 20 years. I am greatly saddened by the loss of your presence. Rest in Peace.

Frank M. Velazquez

February 18, 2020

Rest in Peace John. We are sorry that we couldn't wok together once more.

We'll remember you as the kind person you was.

Ann Taylor

February 18, 2020

We knew John and Sharon for many years. From when they were first married, raising their family and building their business; a loving couple for many years until her tragic passing in 2016. A wonderful couple. Such a tragedy to lose John too. We will remember them fondly.

Chappy Young

February 18, 2020

Like many others have said, JOHN WAS A GREAT MAN! I first met John in 1979 while working in Martin County, FL. We competed for boundary survey jobs for the County/State Save Our Coast program. We were each given portions of the overall project. Later, we gained professional respect for one anther and from time to time my firm (GCY) would work for John as a sub on some of his projects. John had a special and wonderful presence about him that no one could deny. His personality was open, very friendly and warm,...... he never met a stranger. As a professional, he was TOPS! He will be greatly missed in our professional community as a surveyor and friend.

Pati Gattis

February 18, 2020

John lit up a room wherever he went with his big personality and great smile. He was respected by all who met him and will be missed. My condolences to his family, all of whom have suffered the greatest loss by his passing.

Keith Knight

February 18, 2020

We here at Taylor Engineering hate to see him go. It was great working with such a professional these many years.

Bud Rosengrant

February 18, 2020

Condolences to Jane and Mrs. Morgan and Johns family. I was so surprised and in disbelief when I heard this news. I have so many great memories of our THS (Go Tigers) years. I am sure that John is at peace with the Lord.

Ross and Connie Cotherman

February 18, 2020

We have many fond memories with John and Sharon during the Vero Beach High School football games. We will miss him dearly.

Zander Neach

February 18, 2020

Rest in Peace John. It was a pleasure knowing & working with you.

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