Top Banner for Janie Elizabeth Morgan Obituary
Janie Elizabeth Morgan Obituary

Brought to you by Cranston Family Funeral Home

Janie Elizabeth Morgan

Fairfield, IA

December 25, 1926 - November 7, 2019

Janie Elizabeth Morgan Obituary

Janie Elizabeth Morgan, 92, of Fairfield, IA passed away Thursday, November 8, 2019 at the Sunnybrook Living Care Center in Fairfield, IA. A memorial service in Janie's honor will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 25, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Fairfield with Rev. Beth Harbaugh officiating. A time of lunch and fellowship will be held at the church immediately following the service. Memorial contributions in Janie’s honor may be directed to the Fairfield First United Methodist Church. Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Janie Elizabeth Swinney was born Dec. 25, 1926, in Breckenridge, Texas, to Bluford Alonzo (“Doc”) Swinney, MD, and Ruby Alford Swinney. The family moved to Longview, Texas, where Janie grew up and graduated from Longview High School in 1943. She graduated from Christian College in Columbia, Missouri (now Columbia College) in 1945, and the University of Texas, Austin, in 1947. When she was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding in Ottumwa, Iowa, she met Jack Morgan, a groomsman at the same wedding. Jack, in training to become a navy pilot, was stationed at the Ottumwa naval air station during World War II. They married on June 26, 1948, and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Jack was attending Washington University Medical School. After completing residencies in Minneapolis and San Antonio, Texas, Jack and Janie moved to Fairfield. Jack joined partners, Dr. James Dunlevy and Dr. Chris Palcheff, to open the Fairfield Clinic in 1953. Perhaps because of her Christmas birthday, Janie enjoyed every aspect of the holiday season, and created beloved decorating and cooking traditions with her family. She was an avid gardener, caring for her many varieties of lilies in her yard. The Morgans spent summers camping with their children across the country. Janie also accompanied Jack on many fall trips to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota, canoeing and portaging up to the islands owned by Dorothy Moulter, a legend in the Ely, Minnesota area. Janie was a member of First United Methodist Church, P.E.O., Panhellenic, Fairfield Women’s Club, Fairfield Medical Auxiliary, and Wit and Wisdom. Janie is survived by three children, Diana Morgan O’Connor of Dallas, Texas, Bob Morgan of Portland, Oregon, and Judy Morgan of San Rafael, California. She also leaves six grandchildren: Kate O’Connor (Jeff Bethke) and Michael (Victoria) O’Connor,all of Dallas, and Daniel O’Connor, Brooklyn, N.Y.,Miles Morgan and Andrew Morgan of Portland, Oregon, and Lindsey Morgan of Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and two great-grandchildren, Ben and Nora Bethke, of Dallas. Janie was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Morgan, MD, and her parents, Doc and Ruby Swinney. A full obituary will follow when completed.

To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Janie Elizabeth Morgan hosted by Cranston Family Funeral Home.

Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Janie Elizabeth Morgan.