OBITUARY
Dr. Joseph Franklin Morgan
June 17, 1942 – March 22, 2021
Dr. Joseph Franklin Morgan was born in Dallas, Texas on June 17, 1942,
to Alta Lancaster Morgan and John Hamlyn Morgan, Jr. Joe and his older
brother and best friend, John Hamlyn Morgan III, had the run of a large
wheat and corn farm in Denton County, and it was there that they learned
early on the value of hard work.
Joe graduated in 1960 from Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Texas.
He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas (UT) at
Austin in 1964 and his Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS) from the UT Dental
Branch at Houston in 1968. The newly minted Dr. Morgan then proudly
served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps in Ft. Polk,
Louisiana, followed by many years in the Army Reserves. In 1973, he
completed his internship and residency program in Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery from the UT Medical Branch at Galveston.
In 1974, Joe moved to Houston, where he began his oral surgery practice
at the Doctors' Center Building in the Texas Medical Center. It was
there that he became a team doctor for the Houston Oilers football
franchise, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending Sunday afternoons on the
sidelines at the Astrodome in the "Luv Ya Blue" era. Joe later moved his
practice to the Greenpark One Professional Building and remained there
until his retirement in March 2020.
Joe enjoyed practicing oral surgery, lifting weights at the downtown
YMCA, all things UT Longhorn, sports cars, the beach, and a good meal –
especially with family. Some of his most cherished childhood memories
include working with his dad and brother on the farm and visiting his
family each summer at Lake Hamilton in Arkansas.
A private family service is planned at Furneaux Cemetery in Denton
County, where his father was caretaker and where Joe spent many hours in
the North Texas heat maintaining the grounds.
Joe's family includes: his wife, Theodorah DeFrancesco; his daughters,
Kelly Morgan Cyphers (husband Stephen, and children, Nathan, Taylor,
Reagan, Devyn and Sadie); and Kathryn Morgan Donelson (children, Sydney
and Lucas); and Kelly and Kathryn's mother, Judy Blanton Luthy; Joe's
nephew, John Hamlyn Morgan IV (wife, Tammy, and sons Quinn and Ethan);
and niece, Eileen Morgan (partner, Carl Silverstein).
Teddie's family includes her children: Victoria vonFurstenberg
(daughter, Maia); Richard vonFurstenberg (wife, Jen, and children Joseph
and Miko); Joseph vonFurstenberg (wife, Barbara); Maria Hilliker
(husband, Robert, and children Anna, Carmela, Mary and Emmy June); and
brother, R.H. Defran, who had a dear friendship with Joseph defined by
laughter, love and mutual respect.
For the past twenty-five years, Joseph and Teddie have lived an
extraordinary love story. Their greatest pleasure has been found in the
beauty and intimacy of daily life. Home was their sanctuary, often
filled with family, including many little ones who surrounded Joseph
with affection and in whom he delighted.
Although he will be missed beyond measure, Joseph leaves behind a
significant legacy and will be remembered always. |
Published in Houston Chronicle on Apr. 4, 2021. |
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