Sondra Morgan

1939 - 2025

Sondra Morgan passed away April 13, 2025 in Columbia, Mo. She was born May 7, 1939, in Oregon County, Mo., the daughter of Lurine and Homer Bryan. She graduated as valedictorian of Thayer High School in 1957. 

She married Winfrey Thomas Morgan, Jr., on July 6, 1957. They first lived in Columbia, where Tom attended medical school at the University of Missouri. Their daughter Stephanie was born in 1958, and their son Christopher in 1960. The family moved to Kansas City in 1961 for Tom to complete his medical residency, and Melanie was born there in 1962. After a brief stint in the Army at Ft. Leonard Wood, they moved to West Plains in 1964. There, Sondra was a mother, homemaker, and doctor's wife for many years. 

She was very involved in the community, serving on the park board and as president of the school board. She was a member of P.E.O. and numerous other clubs and organizations.

In 1981, after all her children had left for college, she resumed her own education by matriculating as a freshman at the University of Missouri. In 1984, Tom sold his medical practice in West Plains and joined her in Columbia. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English and Classical Studies in 1985, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She then went to law school, graduating in 1988. 

She clerked for the Supreme Court of Missouri for two years, and then joined the firm of Brydon, Swearengen and England in Jefferson City. Her practice was primarily in public utilities and appellate law. She was made a partner in 1997, and retired in 2007.  

Throughout her life, Sondra loved the rivers and lakes of the Ozarks. She and her family enjoyed floating the North Fork, and for many years they had a boat on Lake Norfork in northern Arkansas. She loved to travel, eventually visiting Italy, France and Ireland. She had eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and she was devoted to them all. Her family will always miss her thoughtful gifts, her gracious holiday meals, and, most especially, her ginger snaps. 

Sondra was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. 

She is survived by her sisters Denise Montgomery (Jack) and Mona Beard (Ted); children Stephanie (Bob Boehm), Christopher (Anita Tesh) and Melanie (David Dennis); grandchildren Rob Boehm (Natalie), Sarah Devero (Jeff), Anna Perdue (Warren), Emily Kinsman (Fox), Laura Morgan (Dylan McKnight), Claire Anich (Chris Phillips), Sam Anich (Leigh Fountain) and Mary Grace Anich; and great-grandchildren Louise, Jack and Billy Boehm, Charlie and Josephine Devero, and Andromeda and Moss Perdue.

Private graveside services and burial will be held at the Thayer Cemetery under the direction of Carter Funeral Home of Thayer.