Jeffrey Paul Morgan

Jeffrey Paul Morgan

April 1, 2024

Tulsa, Oklahoma - On the evening of April 1st, Jeffrey Paul Morgan died after a long fight with cancer. His final days were peaceful and painless, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Jeff was born in Portland, Oregon in 1953 to Paul and Lillian Morgan. He and his brother Randy grew up with a deep love for the outdoors nurtured by his father and the maternal family farm near Dallas, Oregon. He spent his childhood hiking, camping, canoeing and learning in the outdoors, punctuated by earning badges in the Boy Scouts, a pursuit which contributed to his lifelong work ethic, determination, and outdoorsmanship.

Most of Jeff's primary education was in Springfield, Oregon. He graduated from McNary High School in Salem and pursued his love of basketball during his middle school and high school years. After graduating, Jeff attended Whitman College, where he studied economics and business and continued playing ball. It was at Whitman Jeff received his greatest gift: meeting his wife Sheri, who he wooed and wed in 1977 and to whom he remained happily married for 47 years, raising four exceptional children together. After their marriage, he earned a Masters degree in Business Administration from Willamette University.

Jeff invested almost his entire professional career, spanning over 40 years, in the forest products industry. He contributed in the finance and accounting departments of many industry leaders in the Pacific Northwest, including Willamette Industries, Plum Creek Timber Co., Simpson Timber Co., and Port Blakely Tree Farms.

Jeff's passion for nature was both a sign of and fuel for his deep Christian faith. Since he was a boy, Jeff's faith guided him. At the age of 19, during a retreat with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Jeff responded to a call to commit his life to Jesus Christ and to His service. No matter where he lived, Jeff served his community. He supported his children's athletic endeavors, often as coach. He served the Church faithfully and generously. He contributed thousands of volunteer hours as a teacher, as a deeply prayerful Elder and pastoral confidante to many spiritual leaders. He was a board member and treasurer for local churches as well as the Alliance Northwest of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a global movement committed to sharing the compassion, healing, and forgiveness of Jesus for all people.

Jeff fought cancer with dignity, deep resolve, perseverance, and grace; never once losing sight of what really mattered to him: his faith and his family. Though his battle cost him most of his strength in the final years, he never lost his perspective for life. No matter how he felt during his treatment, his response to the question, "How are you?", would be, "I am doing well in all the things that matter."

Jeff intended all of his encounters and relationships to be full of God's love with eternity in mind. Jeffrey Morgan was a son and brother, nephew and beloved cousin, father of four, foster care parent to four, grandfather and buddy of seven, and a husband. He was a friend to all who had the privilege to know him, was kind to many strangers, generous to those who needed, and always ready with a joke or story to relax a situation or humanize a financial meeting.

For those of us who God blessed through Jeff, we know our lives have been forever enriched by his many prayers and embraces. We miss you Jeff.

It is hard to convey the meaning of a life in words, but if your father or family is still with you, we know Jeff would say: the next time you see them, hold them tightly and tell them you love them.