Melissa E. Morgan
Melissa Morgan, who had sustained a broken hip and other injuries in a fall in 2013 and been in failing health since October, died last Thursday at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton. She was 94.
Ms. Morgan, who lived on Maidstone Lane in East Hampton, was an inveterate volunteer. A member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church here and its Altar Guild, she received a Bishop’s Cross from the Long Island Episcopal Diocese for many years of attendance and distinguished service. She volunteered at Southampton Hospital, worked in the book section of the East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society thrift shop, and was on the board of directors of the East Hampton Library for many years. She also was a longtime member of the East Hampton Historical Society.
She was born on Jan. 6, 1923, in New York City to Thomas Morgan and the former Catherine Gibson, who had moved to the city from Canada. She graduated from the Hewitt School for Girls there. Her mother died when she was 14 and, after graduation, she worked at a well-known New York department store.
Ms. Morgan and her father came to East Hampton in 1957 to visit his brother. They rented rooms from the East Hampton Strong family and Ms. Morgan became a part of their extended family for the rest of her life.
Until her father died, in 1984, she would drive him to Phoenix to spend two months in the winter. Barbara Strong Borsack said that even though Ms. Morgan was somewhat reserved, she had a good sense of humor and loved being around children.
Ms. Morgan was buried during a private service at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton on Saturday. The Very Rev. Denis Brunelle is to preside at a memorial service at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Luke’s Church. Donations in her name have been suggested to Southampton Hospital, 240 Meeting House Lane, Southampton 11968 and to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 18 James Lane, East Hampton 11937.