Donald Morgan

Mr. Donald "Don" Dean Morgan, 64, of Aurora, Colorado, died Monday, December 19, 2016. Don's final days were spent surrounded by his family. Don loved and cared for his family, had an unprecedented drive to live, and was known to be kind, helpful, and generous. Don was loved by his family and friends, and respected by everyone.

Don was born in Noel, Missouri on May 28, 1952 to Charles and Vernalee Morgan. At the age of 5, his family moved to Union Gap, Washington, where he attended elementary and junior high school in Union Gap. In 1970, he graduated from Eisenhower High School.

Don was a proud Veteran, having served Honorably in the United States Air Force as a Buck Sergeant from 1971 to 1974 and the Army National Guard from 1977 to 1979. Don's dedication to serving his country continued when he was hired on for the National Security Agency, where he worked from 1988 until a medical retirement in 2006.

Don excelled at technical trades. Early in life he thrived in shop class and helped at his father's Chevron station where he learned to love and work on cars. He attended college in Williston, North Dakota where he took architectural drawing and learned how to build houses. In 1983, he earned his journeyman electrician license from Perry Technical Institute in Yakima, Washington. Don loved to work and was always eager to help anyone and everyone who needed a hand - whether building an entire house from top to bottom, remodeling existing structures, or helping with electrical projects. Don's skills and talents were evidenced by the special improvements and finishing touches he made to his own homes over the years.

While stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Don met the love of his life on a blind date. Eleven months later, on December 22, 1973 he married Dawn Rosalie Hauge.

Don loved movies, especially Disney films and sci-fi, but he did not like Star Wars! He enjoyed road trips throughout the United States and traveling with Dawn to England, France, Germany, Holland, and Italy. Don loved listening to all types of music, as evidenced by his "collection" of various stereo systems he owned during his lifetime. He supported local music, such as the Castle Rock Band, Elbert Music Department (both directed by his son-in-law, Andy), and outdoor summer concerts.

Don taught his children how to use tools to complete home improvement projects or work on cars, operate "4rd-tuff's" three-on-the-tree manual transmission, do fractions, remember how many nickels were in a dollar, to love music, ride bikes, and how to sculpt objects out of butter and mashed potatoes when special dinners ran a little too long. Don instilled a strong sense of patriotism in his children, the desire to help loved ones, friends or strangers until all options were exhausted, that it's important to stand up for yourself and others, and to be extremely kind to strangers and neighbors. He loved to teach and his legacy will live through all three of his children, many friends and colleagues, with whom he shared his knowledge and experience.

Don is survived by his wife of nearly 43 years, Dawn; his three children Angie Goodger (Andy), Charlie (Christina), and Danny (Jessica); his two grandsons Thor and Tyr, and his granddaughter, Heléna Joy who is due in April 2017. He is also survived by his sister, Peggy (Jim) Maine, Yakima, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donation, in Don's name, to the following organizations committed to research for ending Diabetes, and Kidney and Heart Diseases: http://www.diabetes.org, https://www.kidney.org, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/.