Helen Gale Morgan Obituary (2025)

Helen Morgan was born on March 28, 1935, to Lawrence and Alice Adams, in Yakima Washington. She had two older siblings, Larry and Margie, and a younger brother, Elmer "Buzzy" Adams. She passed away on July 26, 2025, in Yakima, Washington. Helen grew up in Yakima, living most of her young life in the same small house with her parents and brother, Buzz. Her parents realized the importance of a good education and were very eager for her to get her college degree. Upon graduating from Yakima High School, she received scholarships that got her to Yakima Valley Junior College (now YVC), then on to CWCE (now CWU) in Ellensburg, where she received her teaching degree. Helen first met Pat Morgan at Franklin Junior High, at the age of 15. They graduated together, from Yakima High School, in 1953. While Helen was taking classes at YVC and CWU, Pat enlisted in the Army, where he spent the next two years at various bases in the USA. Pat and Helen were married in 1956 in Yakima. On July 8, 2020, before Pat's passing, they celebrated 64 years of marriage. After returning home from the Army, Pat and Helen purchased a farm near Brownstown, WA. Pat farmed and did Cat work with his dad. Helen taught first grade at White Swan School. In 1957, Pat and Helen, along with Pat's dad, John, officially started Morgan & Son Earthmoving and went full-time into the excavation business. They both maintained their farms until 1962, when Pat and Helen sold their ranch and moved their family to Ellensburg. With their daughter, Laurie and son, Dan, they moved to the Schnebly's rental house in the Fairview district. They stayed there four years, until building their house in the Reecer Creek area. Helen went back to college and earned her master's degree in education in 1969. Shortly after that, Pat's father unexpectedly passed away, so Helen took over full time doing bookwork for the excavation company. Pat and Helen ran the excavation business together until they retired and sold the business to Dan and Laurie on April 1, 2006. Everything they did was for their family. They were the greatest parents, supporting their kids in anything they wanted to do. Helen had a heart of gold. We recently found a paper she wrote in a class in 1955 that said, "I plan to teach elementary school... However, teaching is not my main ambition. It is to get married and have a family of my own. I hope I can help to make it as happy and successful as mine was." And that she did. Helen's greatest joy was taking care of her family. Whether it was full out dinners, toasted cheese sandwiches, or cookies and coffee, nobody was allowed to leave there hungry! Everyone got her famous chocolate cake on their birthday, and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Pat and Helen both enjoyed traveling. Together Pat and Helen traveled to several states, to attend conventions and equipment auctions, family reunions in Indiana and Minnesota, trips to Hawaii, an Alaskan cruise, a train tour across Europe (including a night on the Orient Express), a 50th wedding anniversary trip to South Africa, and a trip to China and the Great Wall. Helen was a member of the Yakima First Christian Church, and in Ellensburg attended the Ellensburg Presbyterian Church. Helen took much comfort in her church family, and the friends she made there. Making crafts for the Christmas Bazaar was a year-round activity that she really enjoyed. Sewing and quilting were some of her favorite things to do. She was also involved in Junior Women, was a bluebird leader and leader of the Stitch & Stir 4H club for many years. She was very involved with Women in Timber and was president of that organization for a time, and even traveled to Washington DC to lobby on behalf of that group. She also had many happy memories as a member of the Jolly Neighbors club, where she regularly got to meet with friends. Helen is survived by her daughter, Laurie (Russ) Bender, son, Dan (Dawnie) Morgan, grandsons, Riley (Ana) Bender, Dusty (Macy) Bender, and Wyatt Morgan, great-grandchildren, London, Finley, Virginia, Judah, Phineas and Posey Bender, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and husband, Jay Patrick Morgan. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 1:00pm, at the Presbyterian Church in Ellensburg. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.