Obituaries

Margaret Paulonis Morgan died peacefully with family by her side in Charleston, WV on March 21, 2017 at the age of 91.  Maggie was a devoted mother, wife, and friend who selflessly dedicated her efforts to those close to her and to those in need.

Born on July 13, 1925 in Baltimore, Maryland to Vera and Joseph Paulonis, she attended Western High School, and graduated early to pursue a nursing career during WWII.  To that end, she studied and graduated from the former Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing. While she practiced as a Registered Nurse, she began taking courses to earn a college degree in Nursing. She studied at the College Notre Dame of Md., Boston College, Massachusetts General, and Catholic University, from where she was awarded her degree. She went on to become a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Nursing teaching Nursing Arts. She then began to work on her Master’s degree but other events took precedence.

She first came to Clarksburg, WV as a bridesmaid in the wedding of a colleague where she met her future husband Roger Morgan.  As the headline in the local paper declared on her wedding day at Immaculate Conception Parish:  “She came for a weekend, and stayed for a lifetime.”

Clarksburg soon benefitted from Maggie’s experience with training and working in major urban hospitals.  She established a candy-striper’s program at St. Mary’s Hospital to help the nursing staff and to train young nursing students, and also taught nursing at Salem College.

Most famously, she recognized that unlike larger cities, the local hospital would benefit from a charity ball like the ones she had attended in Baltimore and Boston.  The Holly Ball, a formal charity event, was originally conceived of and organized by Maggie; Fifty years later, this fundraiser is now a Clarksburg tradition, and has resulted in substantial funding for United Hospital Center.

Maggie also brought her creativity and passion to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Harrison County in the form of a fundraising event known as the “Duck Race.”  For many years in the 1990’s and 2000’s during the Italian Heritage Festival weekend, the community donated thousands of dollars to the charity by buying tickets for a chance to own the winning Duck in a race down the West Fork River at Veteran’s Park.

When she wasn’t fundraising, Maggie faithfully cared for those in need in Harrison County by delivering food and providing care and companionship with the Meals on Wheels program.  She also actively volunteered with her church, Immaculate Conception Parish.

Above and beyond her nursing career, charitable endeavours, and her devotion to family life, Maggie pursued many personal interests: she was an exceptional cook and entertainer, gardener, seamstress, and athlete  – she loved to swim, play tennis, and ski. More than anything, she was a caring and giving person who always put others first.

She is survived by her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren: John Miles Morgan and wife Lisa Morgan, and their sons Skyler, Jackson, and Maxwell; Andy Morgan; David Morgan and wife Cindy Moeller, and their children Greyson and Marlowe; and daughter-in-law Kim Shamblin Morgan. She is also survived by her sister Frances Unitas (nee Paulonis), nephew Anthony J. Unitas and wife Eileen, great nephews Anthony J. Jr. and Daniel, and great niece Julia.
She is preceded in death by her husband Roger J. Morgan and eldest son Gregory A. Morgan of Clarksburg, WV. Visitation will be from 6-8pm on Thursday, March 24th at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home in Nutter Fort, WV.

Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, 201 Edison Street, on Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 10:00 am at the All Saints Catholic Church in Bridgeport WV with Reverend Father Hilarion Cann as Celebrant.

Interment will be in the Bridgeport Cemetery.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Maggie’s life.

Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.amoscarvelli.com. A service of Amos Carvelli Funeral Home.